FNQ 2025 Regional Planning Process

Far North Queensland (FNQ) is a region internationally renowned for its cultural and ecological values and diversity. These values form the basis of the regional economy, half of which is based upon tourism. The region is experiencing high rates of population growth and associated development which are placing ever increasing pressure on the regions environment. Urban and agricultural development have already seen the loss of 80% of FNQ’s coastal rainforests and wetlands, and placed significant pressures on the two world heritage areas. The region is also recognised by the Australian Government and the International Panel on Climate Change as being highly exposed to climate change impacts on numerous fronts.

The QLD State government is currently developing FNQ 2025; a statutory regional plan which will guide and direct new development in the region up until the year 2025.

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre believes this regional plan has the potential to make a positive difference to our region in the coming decades. CAFNEC intends to strongly advocate for a plan that is visionary, innovative and underpinned at all times by sustainability. CAFNEC will coordinate a conservation response to FNQ 2025 through extensive engagement with other environmental groups, the community and the State government, to ensure environmental values and concerns are well represented throughout the development of this Plan. 

CAFNEC’s key goals in this project are to:

On May 9, the Draft Regional Plan was released. The Premier and Planning Minister were on hand to explain the plan's significance and to outline the intent and main features and successes they wished to highlight. Over the past weeks we have been scrutinising the plan in order to highlight the achievements and failings of the draft document.

The plan in available online at: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/regional-planning/far-north-queensland.html and public submissions close on the 8th August 2008.

CAFNEC’s full evaluation of the Draft Plan will be available here by mid June, as well as pro former submissions to aid in making your submission. CLICK HERE  for a summary of the key components of the Draft Plan.

CAFNEC program of engagement

CAFNEC plans to scrutinise the Regional Plan, with particular attention to the exemptions within the Statutory Provisions.

At our June Steering Committee (SC) meeting, which we may schedule for longer, we will announce to key representatives of the conservation sector in Far North Queensland, what our critical concerns are with the Draft plan, and what implementation issues may occur.

We will also be publishing our findings in the June e-newsletter, which is scheduled to be circulated in the week commencing 16/6/08. These comments will also be published here.

We will also be liaising with state wide and national conservation groups.

From August to November in 2007, CAFNEC conducted 4 regional forums in Kuranda, Mossman, Innisfail and Atherton with the planners from Regional Planning, Department of Infrastructure and Planning. In total 150 people attended these forums. An outcomes report of the key discussion points from these forums is available for download off this webpage.

Conservation Summit – 24/6/08

Far North Queensland’s environmentalist community are invited to join CAFNEC, EDO NQ and other representatives of key local and single issue conservation groups in discussing the pro’s and con’s of the Draft FNQ 2025 Regional Plan. The aim of this meeting is to get to the bottom of what the Plan will really entail for FNQ’s natural environment, come to a unified position with key messages to include in submissions and to forward this message through the environmental networks of the region.

This meeting will be in lieu of the nest Steering Committee meeting at 1pm- 5pm on Tuesday the 24th June 2008.

Venue to be advised.

Sustainability Indicators Public Seminar

On Thursday the 28th August, CAFNEC will be coordinating a public seminar on Sustainability Indicators and why they are an important component of progressing sustainability through land use planning, and how they can be applied to FNQ.

RRRC and WTMA are partnering with CAFNEC to bring this event to a Cairns audience. Presenters from CSIRO, GBRMPA and Terrain will be involved.

Venue to be advised.

Claude Lewenz visits Far North Queensland

Claude Lewenz, the author of “how to build a village” will be visiting Far North Queensland in the first week of July to do a series of presentations in Innisfail, Cairns, Atherton and possibly Townsville.

CAFNEC will be partnering with Ecosmarte Australia Limited to bring this exciting speaker to Far North Queensland.

Clause Lewenz has written a highly informative and seminal work in his book “How to build a Village” where he asks questions like “What happens if we design for quality of life rather than to sell cars? What would the zoning look like? How would it work?” The answer is a "Village" defined as a 5,000 to 10,000 population, self-contained, high-density community built on 100-400 acres around multiple plazas with cafes, shops, workplaces and artist guilds and no cars within - all is within a 10-minute walk with a motorpool for the cars, outside the Village gates.

Please join us in hearing this wonderful author share his ideas about sustainable settlements and the future of planning.

Dates and Venue to be advised.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Our remaining Steering Committee meetings for 2008 are on the last Tuesday of each month, which are the following dates...

    *     24th June (Conservation Summit- 1pm to 5pm)
    *     29th July
    *     26th August
    *     30th September
    *     28th October
    *     5th November
    *     December- no meeting

SC meeting are generally at 2pm in CAFNECs library/meeting room in Cominos House. All are welcome.

Also please visit www.fnq2025.com for more information about the conservation sector's response to the Plan, or visit the CAFNEC website at www.cafnec.org.au and follow the links to the FNQ 2025 Plan.

If you are interested in getting involved with our efforts to promote sustainability with this Plan or any other aspect of life in Far North Queensland, please contact the friendly staff at CAFNEC, on (07) 4032 1746  or email Steve on- campaign@cafnec.org.au or for all 2025 concerns and enquiries email Sarah- project@cafnec.org.au .

Public consultation- Department of Infrastructure and Planning

Community consultation is under way for the FNQ 2025 Regional Plan. The program is listed below. Some of these events have already been under taken, but the program goes into mid June.

Further details on the plan etc are at www.dip.qld.gov.au, at most council chambers, on CD-ROM from the Department, or hard copy from Level 2 Orchid Plaza, 79-87 Abbot St, Cairns 4870, phone 1300 721 194 or e-mail fnq2025@dip.qld.gov.au

RSVPs are essential. To RSVP to a session telephone 1300 721 194.

 
Presentation of the FNQ2025 Draft Regional Plan at JCU
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology
Public Lecture Series Invitation
By Robin Clark, Manager Regional Planning
Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Date: Wednesday 04 June 2008
Time: 5.30pm for wine and cheese, lecture starts at 6.00pm
Place: Crowther Lecture Theatre, James Cook University, Cairns
Please RSVP Sue Kelly by Friday 30 May on 4042 1456 or
susan.kelly@jcu.edu.au 

SUPPORTERS

CAFNEC wishes to sincerely thank the Qld government’s Blueprint for the Bush initiative and Terrain NRM Ltd and the Mullum Trust for supporting our FNQ2025 engagement efforts.

* NEW *

CLICK HERE for a summary of the key components of the Draft Plan.