A new plan to help guide investment in activities that support the meaningful involvement of Aboriginal communities in natural resource management will soon be implemented through the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC).
The Regional Caring for Country Plan was launched on October 3, 2008 and constitutes a significant milestone for QMDC, Aboriginal communities and the region, as well as supporting the ongoing implementation of the Regional NRM Plan.
QMDC Regional Aboriginal Advisory Group member Robert Lacey said the document was highly important to the Aboriginal communities of the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin.
“The Plan is a very accurate portrait of many conversations that have taken place over several years,” he said.
“We hope that this will be a working document with the commitment and responsibilities of the whole community to make this Plan a reality.”
Department of Natural Resources and Water acting director Lamond Graham, who officially launched the Plan, said he was impressed and pleased to have the issue of Aboriginal engagement in natural resource management so addressed, and commended the work undertaken by QMDC and the Aboriginal communities involved.
Plans for the implementation of components of the Caring for Country Plan are already underway. QMDC developed an implementation component of the Caring for Country Plan which was used to secure funding to assist Aboriginal Traditional Owners and communities to be more meaningfully involved in natural resource management.
It is hoped other organisations, communities and governments will also refer to the Caring for Country Plan when engaging with Aboriginal communities on natural resource management.
Photograph: The Regional Caring for Country Plan launched with representatives from the QMDC and the Dep. of Natural Resources and Water on hand.
