Community
About
The settlement pattern of the region is sparse. There are population clusters in the Upper Mitchell Catchment and along the Gulf of Carpentaria Coastline, with a dispersed network of small, remote townships in the Gulf plains and the Einasleigh Uplands. About 50% of the region’s population falls within the Mareeba Shire, a further 22% in the Carpentaria, Kowanyama, Etheridge and Croydon Shires accounting for 12% combined, and the remaining 4% in Cook Shire.
Resource Condition Target
The communities of the Northern Gulf Region will improve their capacity for climate change resilience through developing and maintaining a strong and sustainable resource-based economy, growing skills and awareness, and supporting Traditional Owners in their custodial roles as the region’s land and sea managers.
About
The settlement pattern of the region is sparse. There are population clusters in the Upper Mitchell Catchment and along the Gulf of Carpentaria Coastline, with a dispersed network of small, remote townships in the Gulf plains and the Einasleigh Uplands. About 50% of the region’s population falls within the Mareeba Shire, a further 22% in the Carpentaria, Kowanyama, Etheridge and Croydon Shires accounting for 12% combined, and the remaining 4% in Cook Shire.
Our Goals
Resilience Rating Scale through the Social Resilience Benchmarking in the Northern Gulf Region, which calibrates the most current and best available data and evidence, providing a current assessment of the social resilience of Gulf Communities against a set of prescribed indicators, with reference to climate change drivers.
The communities of the Northern Gulf Region will improve their capacity for climate change resilience through developing and maintaining a strong and sustainable resource-based economy, growing skills and awareness, and supporting Traditional Owners in their custodial roles as the region’s land and sea managers.
The aspirations of Indigenous people in returning to their traditional lands as natural resource managers are supported through a range of enterprises and initiatives.
4.1.1 Support Traditional Owners to better regulate tourism to reduce impacts on country and sacred sites, by:
- Preventing the stealing of artefacts through no-go zones;
- Regulating access;
- Developing education material and signage;
- Encouraging Traditional Owner presence on country;
- Developing cultural tourism opportunities, where rangers and Traditional Owners take tourists out on country.
Jawiyabba Warra Aboriginal Corporation;
Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation;
Chillagoe Aboriginal community.
Western Yalanji Corporation;
Jawi Yabba Aboriginal Corporation;
Alliance of Northern Gulf Indigenous Corporation (ANGIC);
Watsonville Aboriginal Corporation.
NGRMG will support and assist Indigenous initiatives to better manage tourism impacts on their traditional lands, whilst providing culturally appropriate forms of employment and revenue to Aboriginal communities, and enabling Traditional owners return to country.
When enlisted, provide technical, material and in principle support and assist in leveraging funding for the following:
- Traditional Owners in representing concerns regarding visitor impacts on their country;
- Interpretative signage of natural and cultural values for visitors;
- Indigenous management of regulated access and permit scheme to culturally significant sites.
4.1.2 Support Traditional Owners to regain, maintain, share and hand down cultural knowledge to succeeding generations, through the continued mapping of story/sacred places and initiatives to preserve traditional languages.
Alliance for Northern Gulf Indigenous Corporation (ANGIC);
Western Yalanji Corporation;
Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation;
Wokomin people.
This action represents a commitment to continued traditional knowledge preservation and traditional language preservation initiatives.
When enlisted, provide technical, material and in principle support and assist in leveraging funding for the following:
- Indigenous language resources, such as books, CD’s, music and workshops
- Arts projects promoting Indigenous traditional and contemporary cultural product;
- Mapping of cultural values and significant sites.
4.1.3 Support existing Indigenous ranger programs, and encourage and support new and emerging Indigenous ranger groups to undertake on ground works towards improving environmental health in collaboration with land managers of pastoral and mining leases, and government agencies.
Western Yalanji Corporation;
Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation. CLCAC KALNRMO
Indigenous rangers programs provide employment opportunities in remote communities while significantly increasing on ground NRM capacity. The maintenance and expansion of these programs is fully and actively supported by NGRMG.
- When enlisted, provide technical, material and in principle support and assist in leveraging funding for the expansion of existing Indigenous ranger programs, and assist in the establishment of new Indigenous ranger units.
- Where ever possible, engage the services of Indigenous rangers as the preferred and most appropriate service provider to conduct on ground environmental works
4.1.4 Continue to strengthen country based plans, strategic planning and governance of Aboriginal organisations, as vehicles to provide increased access to country, undertake recreational activities, implement conservation and land management measures, and record the cultural and natural values of country.
Western Yalanji Corporation;
Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation;
Wokomin people;
ANGIC
.
Through the NRM planning engagement process, NGRMG assisted in/ contributed to the development of 6 new strategic/ country based plans and the review of 2 existing plans. These efforts will continue, to provide a basis of strong foundation governance and strategic direction upon which Indigenous aspirations can spring board.
Continue to contribute to a strong foundation of Indigenous-driven strategies, country-based planning and governance of Aboriginal organisations as a basis of realising Indigenous aspirations for country, by assisting in leveraging funding to expand and update existing plans, and develop new plans where none currently exist, and plan/ strategy implementation.
4.1.5 Continue to assist in the sustainable development of Aboriginal-managed lands.
Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation;
Wild river rangers;
Jawiyabba Warra Aboriginal Corporation;
Chillagoe Aboriginal community.
Talaroo, Bulimba, Oriners, Powis, Bonny Glen and Kondaparinga stations
.
Building the skills and capacity of young Traditional owners as next generation land managers in essential to the maintenance of culture and heritage. Employment opportunities should be investigated and established where ever possible to engage young Traditional owners in skills development and on ground NRM works. Junior rangers programs could be developed to facilitate this action.
- Where enlisted, provide material and technical support for training opportunities for Indigenous rangers and youth.
- Where ever possible, engage the services of Indigenous rangers as the preferred and most appropriate service provider to conduct on ground environmental works
4.1.7 Support initiatives and programs which encourage young Traditional Owners to connect with their country and gain skills to be next generation land managers and Traditional custodians.
Jawiyabba Warra Aboriginal Corporation;
Western Yalanji Corporation;
Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation;
Wokomin people;
ANGIC
.
Building the skills and capacity of young Traditional owners as next generation land managers in essential to the maintenance of culture and heritage. Employment opportunities should be investigated and established where ever possible to engage young Traditional owners in skills development and on ground NRM works. Junior rangers programs could be developed to facilitate this action.
- Where enlisted, provide material and technical support for training opportunities for Indigenous rangers and youth.
- Where ever possible, engage the services of Indigenous rangers as the preferred and most appropriate service provider to conduct on ground environmental works
A multi-generational, cross sectoral approach to building NRM capacity and promoting environmental awareness is embraced by the communities of the Northern Gulf Region.
4.2.1 Promote ecological literacy and a stewardship ethos in the younger generation by developing classroom resources, curriculum material, and hosting excursions and events which relate to the unique environments of the Northern Gulf, through the following:
- Develop wildlife awareness communication tools including posters and wall charts, species identification guides, and classroom resources;
- Disseminate news and relevant educational resources to teachers, parents and students;
- Continue to engage school children in environmental education activities and events;
- Provide training and mentoring opportunities to Gulf youth.
Local primary schools (Mt Surprise, Chillagoe, Georgetown, Forsayth, Croydon);
Education Qld;
James Cook University;
Mareeba Agriculture College;
Schools of distance education.
There is a well-recognized dearth of environmental education resources in dry tropical savannas of Northern Australia, which can be provided to school children to promote awareness of their local environment. NGRMG has tried to address this by developing educational resources and events tailored to remote Gulf school communities, to engage children in environmental education. In a recent community survey conducted by NGRMG (2015) this program rated as #2 top most supported activity.
- Print and disseminate wildlife posters to all schools and students of the Gulf.
- Identify relevant environmental education resources and publish newsletter and use web based communications;
- Coordinate a program of regional events, including the annual Gulf Kids Environment Day in Croydon;
- Continue to contribute NRM related activities to the annual Camp Cobbold;
- Provide a NRM based training opportunity for Gulf youth (15-20 years old) annually
4.2.2 Develop opportunities for citizen science, via volunteers, tourists, local residents, students and amateur field naturalists in the Northern Gulf Region to participate in the collection of field data across the region.
Employment agencies (various);
Green Nomads;
Wildnet;
Atlas of Living Australia;
Universities (various);
Tourism operators;
Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia.
This action represents a commitment to continuing the field naturalist’s camps on remote stations to engage naturalists and volunteers in rapid surveys, and where funds permit an expansion of this program. There is potential to expand these activities by attracting tertiary field studies to the region via collaboration for both Australian and international universities. “Grey nomad” visitors to the region could also be engaged in these activities.
- Continue to host and coordinate the field naturalists’ camps over a range of land types and grazing properties, twice per year, resulting in 10 camps from a period of 2016-2021.
- Liaise with universities with the aim of collaborating in the development of tertiary field studies in the Northern Gulf region;
- Liaise with tour operators and caravan parks to attract visitors to field naturalist camps
4.2.3 Develop a hub of ‘Savanna Knowledge’ to:
- Distill scientific knowledge through key messages that can be used for interpretive purposes
- Present information in a range of accessible media forms (including websites and apps) to inform both visitors and residents of the unique environmental qualities of the Gulf savanna; and
- Contribute display material to existing information centres and tourist facilities.
Etheridge Shire Council;
Croydon Shire Council;
Carpentaria Shire Council;
Mareeba Shire Council; Gulf Savanna Development;
Savannah Guides;
Tourism Cape York;
Tourism associations (various).
Georgetown Terrestrial centre,
Croydon True Blue Centre, Chillagoe Hub;
Bedrock Village in Mt Surprise
Undara Experience;
Cobbold Gorge.
Visitors to the Northern Gulf region number in the tens of thousands every year. Engaging these visitors with key messages on the unique qualities, key ecological characteristics, values and vulnerabilities of the Northern Gulf’s dry tropical savanna environment provides a basis for imbruing greater commitment to ecological awareness and environmentally responsible behavior for both residents and visitors alike. Existing tourist facilities and visitors centres provide an excellent network and infrastructure to focus these efforts.
- 1. Develop a communications package distilling key NRM messages about the dry tropical savanna country of the Northern Gulf, for visitors to the region;
- Develop a suite of web based and hard copy (posters and handouts) communications to reinforce these messages;
- Contribute display materials to each of the visitors centres of the Northern Gulf;
- Develop a regionally specific, environmental awareness “mirco-documentary” series for display in tourist facilities and online across the region
4.2.4 Support the strengthening and expansion of rural women’s networks through events and communications.
National Rural Women’s Coalition;
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation;
Resourcing Women of the North committee.
This action represents a continued commitment to recognizing the role of rural women as community leaders and NRM champions through promoting and supporting Rural women’s networks including events on an annual basis throughout the region, through the Resourcing Women of the North committee.
- Continue to provide in principle and material support to rural women’s events, and facilitate women’s networks throughout the Gulf, with the aim of hosting or sponsoring one rural women’s event per annum, resulting in 5 events across the Northern Gulf region from 2016-2021.
- Identify resources and opportunities for the advancement and capacity building of rural women and disseminate through NGRMG communication network
4.2.5 Collaborate with existing networks to engage new sectors (e.g. rural banks, rural agents) on NRM issues and forge linkages with these industries to disseminate key NRM messages.
Elders;
Finance institutions;
Industry associations.
This action represents a commitment to expand our networks into new sectors and professional communities in the Grazing lands supply chain, such as rural finance, services & supplies sectors to disseminate an NRM ethos and awareness on a whole of community level.
Participate in industry forums and association meetings of finance, retail, insurance and tourist sectors with an interest and influence in the Northern Gulf region (at least one per annum), with the aim of fostering an NRM ethos and understanding throughout the entire community and economy.
4.2.6 Recognise the tourism sector as key NRM educators and disseminators of knowledge, and collaborate with them in efforts to provide environmental interpretation and realise new eco-tourism ventures.
Tour operators (various);
Savannah Guides;
Gulf Savanna Development.
Tourist operators are ideally suited and connected to provide environmental education and interpretation to visitors to the Northern Gulf. This action represents a commitment to call a summit of Northern Gulf tour operators to canvas ideas and potential initiatives as the basis for future NRM/ tourism partnerships.
Provide a tourism summit to discuss regional initiatives for NRM education through tourism, possibly in conjunction with the Savannah guides school.
