30-Sep-2011

SEQ Catchments were well represented at the 2011 Queensland Landcare Conference last week, providing an opportunity for information sharing and learning among other landcare groups, community groups, NGO’s and industry on land management issues across Australia.

SEQ Catchments had four representatives, including two Community Partnership Managers, the SEQ Regional Landcare Facilitator and SEQ Catchment’s Chair.SEQ Catchment’s Community Partnership Manager for the Gold Coast region, Linda Durham, presented the SEQ Catchment’s led ‘Towards Sustainability Program’.

‘‘This has been a very successful program which started approximately three years ago and has provided training for disadvantaged youth over a 26 week period, who upon completion are awarded with a Certificate 2 qualification in Conservation and Land Management.’’ she said.

‘‘It has been great to able to share our findings and challenges from this project with other groups across the country.’’

SEQ Catchments also presented an overview of Powerlink’s GreenWorks program, highlighting the partnerships developed with Landcare groups, Councils and local landholders who are helping to protect and enhance significant native vegetation including a number of endangered ecological communities and minimise land degradation from salinity and erosion at priority sites across South East Queensland.

This year’s Queensland Landcare Conference was hosted by Lower Burdekin Landcare. Delegates enjoyed excellent quality presentations from numerous Landcare groups, and informative speeches from keynote speakers such as John Williams, member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientist, who gave two excellent presentations at the opening and close of the Conference, as well as not for profit sponsorship guru Julian Moore.

SEQ Catchment's Regional Landcare Facilitator particularly enjoyed the field day component of the Conference.

“It was great to tour the Burdekin with guides who could provide such a wealth of information as the Lower Burdekin Landcare members. We visited the Surcrogen sugar mill and several sites around Ayr which showcased the hard work of the Landcare group”. For more information on the 2011 Landcare Conference click here.