Effective natural resource management is an important part of local government responsibilities and effective decision-making at this level is crucial to maintaining many essential ecosystem services.
Local governments make a significant direct investment to NRM, investing income from rates and in some cases through environmental levies; and they also provide co-investment to support research and on-ground activities.
Councils have a strong track record in achieving environmental outcomes in response to the community’s desire to protect a range of natural assets and resources.
The Local Government Association of Queensland is the peak body for local government in Queensland. It advises, supports and represents the state’s 77 councils in order to improve their operations and strengthen their relationships with their communities.
At the same time, Queensland’s regional NRM sector is delivering outcomes for local communities, who have contributed to the process of developing regional NRM plans across the state.
All of this work is now bolstered by a memorandum of understanding, signed by NRM Regions Queensland and the Local Government Association of Queensland.
The purpose of the MOU is to formalise the principles of cooperation, information sharing and collaboration between LGAQ and NRMRQ in dealing with natural resource management issues of mutual interest.
The MOU identifies many shared attributes between the two organisations. Both play an advocacy role in NRM as well as a significant role in planning and implementation around natural resource management. Both have expertise and strong networks with stakeholders, and represent the interests of the community at large.
The MOU also notes the investment made by local governments in natural resource management, which includes: stormwater management and Water Sensitive Urban Design, waterway and riparian restoration, urban greening through urban forestry and street tree planting, invasive plant and animal control, habitat restoration and rehabilitation, revegetation, coastal protection and management, fire management, natural disaster recovery, management and compliance of the stock route network, and advocacy and policy development.
It is envisaged that the MOU will support enhanced communication and partnerships between regional NRM organisations and local councils, resulting in more successful outcomes for natural resource management.
The MOU is due to be reviewed in 2023.
Download the memorandum of understanding here or contact NRM Regions Queensland CEO Chris Norman for more information.