To Infinity ... and beyond
The
theme of this year's Landcare Conference is Infinity: Sustainability
by Design. With five keynote speakers, 20 concurrent workshop sessions and some 40 speakers, the conference covers topics including peak oil and gas; sustainable agriculture; peri-urban futures; succession planning; low carbon living; climate adaptation; river health; soil carbon and much more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inaugural
Queensland Landcare Group Survey | response required by Friday 5 September
An opportunity to share issues,
opportunities and action plans for the future
With so many
changes to the environment in which landcare groups operate, it is timely to
assess how landcare groups are traveling and provide an opportunity for members
to share issues, opportunities and visions for the future. The attached survey
is being distributed to all landcare groups in the lead-up to the Queensland
Landcare Conference. It will allow groups to contribute to topics discussed
during land café sessions at the conference, whether attending the event or
not. Responses are required to sam@wombatcreative.com.au by Friday
5 September.
Any community
based NRM, conservation, environment, bushcare, coastcare, waterwatch or
voluntary action group working on environmental issues is welcome to contribute
to this survey.
During the
landcare conference two land café workshops will take place, with experienced
facilitators guiding groups through burning issues captured through the survey
process. In the final session of the conference, a panel of representatives
from organisations such as Landcare and the Regional Group’s Collective will
commit to carrying actions forward.
This survey was
instigated by the 2008 Queensland Landcare Conference steering committee who
identified the need; and developed by a number of professional facilitators on
behalf of Landcare Queensland. For more information contact
Samantha Morris, Wombat Creative on 0421 709 519 or sam@wombatcreative.com.au.
|
|
|
| View our latest media releases
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A very unique event .....
Holding
a conference of this size in a town like Monto brings with it some very
unique challenges. Delegates joining us at this conference will
experience some of the finest Queensland country hospitality on offer! Accommodation
will be available in a range of styles. A very (very) limited number
of motel rooms are available; we are constructing a special conference
tent city complete with beds (but BYO linen); and we are currently
seeking expressions of interest from local families to host delegates
in their homes. More information about accommodation will be available
in our next newsletter.
The conference venues will also offer
delegates a real taste of the Burnett. The Monto Showgrounds will be
used for conference sessions - venues like the Woodchoppers Bar and the
Stud Cattle Arena will be utilised for plenary and breakout sessions
and you'll be greeted each day with a real bush breakfast. Sounds tempting, huh? We hope to see you there.
|
|
About the host town | Monto
Covering
4,295 square kilometres and with a population of 2,500, the Shire of
Monto in the North Burnett is geographically situated in the Central
Queensland hinterland approximately 200 kilometres west of the coastal
cities of Bundaberg and Gladstone. The most prominent geological
feature is the spectacular Cania Gorge located in the north of the
Shire.
Monto enjoys a sub-humid moderate climate, with an
average 728mm of rain annually. The shire has a diversity of industry
including beef cattle, lucerne growing, pig production, dairying,
timber and grain growing, with farms ranging in size from 10 to over
10,000 hectares. The beef cattle population in Monto shire is
approximately 80,000 head. Emerging industries include vegetable and
fruit producation, farm forestry, grape growing, venison, squab,
olives, goats and craft industries.
With a wealth of natural beauty and biodiversity,
Monto
Shire has developed a thriving tourism industry. Cania George National
Park occupies more than 3000 hectares, and offers dramatic sandstone
rock formations which overlook lush forest gullies. Visitors enjoy an
amazing variety of scenery, wildlife and history along the many walking
tracks available. The park is less than 30 kilometres away from the
township of Monto. Kroombit Tops National Park, on the border of
Monto, Calliope and Banana Shires boasts overwhelming open rainforest,
imposing grasstrees, 6 metre high fern trees, Piccabeen palms and
gigantic blue gums. Views extend from the Great Dividing Range, rising
from the rugged country below to the Pacific Ocean. (Information
courtesy of North Burnett Regional Council).
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Massive discounts for Monto locals
North
Burnett Landcare group this week announced a super registration discount for
members of their group. Residents of the former shire of Monto, who become
members of the Landcare group are eligible for a massive discount on
registration fees. People can save nearly $300. The
special registration rate includes attendance at all conference sessions and
field trips and the Monday night conference dinner. It does not include
attendance at the gala conference dinner on Tuesday night.
More
information about the special registration fee or the conference program is
available from Michelle Gleeson on michellesgotmail@gmail.com
or 0439 760 887.
|
|
|
Plenty
of accommodation options still available
While
accommodation is limited in Monto, there are still plenty of options available
for delegates who register before 31 August. Motels, pubs and cabins are
filling fast but still have beds free. To make a booking you must contact
Wombat Creative – 0421 709 519 or email sam@wombatcreative.com.au.
Of course
Tent
City has proved extremely
popular with delegates with some 48 tents already booked. The tents come
equipped with steel-framed beds with foam mattresses and the venue has plenty of
hot showers and toilet facilities to cater for hundreds of tent city residents.
The benefit of being a stone’s throw from all social functions (except the
formal dinner which is a 15 minute walk away); hot breakfasts; and conference
sessions is an added bonus. To book your tent contact sam@wombatcreative.com.au
.
Speakers attract media
attention
The high caliber of speakers
and diversity of topics being addressed at this conference has led to ABC Radio
confirming a live broadcast from the event on Monday 22 September. Speakers and
delegates will be interviewed in live and pre-recorded interviews by rural
reporter, Scott Lamond. So if you’re not coming to the radio and you live in
the Wide Bay / Burnett region, make sure you tune in.
Sponsors make it
possible
This conference would not be
possible without the support of a large number of sponsors and in-kind
contributors. Most significantly is the double platinum support of Queensland’s
regional NRM groups and the host region, Burnett Mary Regional
Group.
In addition, DAFF, Energex,
North Burnett Regional Council, Powerlink, Reef Water Quality Protection Plan,
Natural Resources & Water, Queensland Wetland Programme, Pioneer Catchment
& Landcare, Rangelands Australia, Canegrowers, Ausmin, Stockade Nursery,
Treemax / Plantmark, Waratah OneSteel, Greening Australia and Queensland Water
and Landcarers.
Queensland Murray Darling
Committee and SEQ Catchments also sponsored community delegates to attend the
event. More information about all of our sponsors is available online from
Wednesday 13 September at www.landcare.org.au/Sponsors.htm.
Calling
Landcare leaders, Innovators and story makers
Landcare
Queensland is
calling for nominations for three exciting awards:
SKM Landcare
Innovation Award – with $12,000 worth of SKM consultancy services up for
grabs;
Landcare
Leadership Bursary – with up to $2,000 cash on offer for professional landcare
workers in Queensland; and
Landcare
Placestories M&E Award – offering a sponsorship prize to the 2009 Queensland
Landcare Conference worth more than $1000.
Nominations close
Thursday 11 September. Selection criteria and guidelines have been designed to
make for a very simple application nprocess. Contact Landcare Queensland on 07 3211
4413 or chloe@landcare.org.au for more
information. Further information is also available online at www.landcare.org.au. Winners are
announced at the 2008 Queensland Landcare Conference Gala Dinner on Thursday 23
September in Monto.
Bangers & Rhymes
Join
well known bush poets, Lyndon Baxter, Dean Collins and friends as they
host a poet's breakfast for conference delegates on Wednesday 24
September. The perfect tonic after the conference dinner the night
before, the Poet's Breakfast will offer a hearty, hot nutritious
breakfast, light hearted bush poetry and great companionship.
Regional Groups Collective Chair to address climate change action
Chair
of the Queensland Regional NRM Group's Collective, Mike Berwick, will
provide a short keynote addresss on how Queensland's regions are
responding to climate change during a Monday plenary session. Mike
will discuss climate change from a Queensland perspective and highlight
regional efforts such as assessments of climate change adaptations;
impacts; risks; and modelling techniques.
|
|
Accommodation aplenty in Monto
There are plenty of accommodation options to suit all tastes (well nearly) and budgets in Monto.
The Conference tent city, housing delegates in spacious, carpeted purpose-built tents will be the most cost effective and convenient option. Tents come with beds and are located adjacent to the conference registration and trade zone, toilets, warm showers and a secure cloak room for valuables
Motels, hotels, billeting and caravan park spaces are also available. For more information, read the accommodation information sheet (available for download below), or contact Event Manager, Samantha Morris on 07 3012 7617 or sam@wombatcreative.com.au.
|
|
|
|
Sponsors and exhibitors still being sought
Holding a conference in a town as unique as Monto brings with it very unique challenges, so we need as much financial support as possible to make this conference a reality. The benefits are enormous!
|
|
|
|
Community display zone
A
community display zone is being planned for one of the meal areas,
located directly adjacent to the trade exhibition hall. Grassroots
landcare and community conservation groups are welcome to book space in
the community display zone at no cost. Space will be made available
for posters, brochures and digital stories about landcare projects
happening around the state.
For more information, please
contact Conference Manager, Samantha Morris at Wombat Creative on 0421
709 519 or email sam@wombatcreative.com.au.
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
