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South East Queensland - Natural Resource Management region

Regional summary

The South East region of Queensland shares with the Wet Tropics the status of being one of the most botanically rich bioregions in Queensland. The Border Ranges country of southern South East and northern New South Wales is recognised nationally as a biodiversity hotspot.

The South East region represents just 1.3 percent of Queensland's area, yet is home to 65 percent of the state's total population. The region is the fastest growing in Australia and its population is projected to increase by 37 percent to 3.5 million by 2021. Sustainable use and management of the region's resources are critical.

The South East region contains the South East Western Catchments Group of National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) region within its borders. Plans are in place to merge the two administrative bodies over the next few years.

The South East region and Western Catchment region both have natural resource management (NRM) plans, accredited in December 2004. Twelve-month investment packages were approved in February 2005. South East has received Australian Government investment of $2.40 million from the Trust and Western Catchment received $1 64 million under the NAP.

Eight key principles to guide regional NRM into the future were developed. They are: sustainability, shared responsibility, integration, science and priority-based decision-making, continual improvement, transparency, accountability and valuation.

Priority issues

Key natural resource management issues in the region include:

• loss of biodiversity, fragmentation of vegetation and impact of weeds
• urban encroachment on agricultural areas
• waterways health - riparian vegetation, nutrients and sediments
• water supply
• population growth
• lifestyle expectations

Regional plan

NRM South East Inc manages the whole region for the purpose of the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust), however, salinity and water quality are considered particularly important in the central and western areas. In recognition of the complexity of the region, the Western Catchments Group was established to identify and manage issues under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

Both of these regional bodies were responsible for developing the South East regional plan, in consultation with the local community. This plan was based on a 'whole of region' approach and addresses significant NRM issues incorporating social, environmental and economic aspects.

Once the regional plan was accredited, they were responsible for developing the regional investment strategy. This is essentially the business plan that attracts investment from the Australian and state governments and details the specific actions, costs and timeframes required to implement the regional plan.

It was recognised that the region already supports a variety of planning and strategy documents which was built into these plans. Once consultation and integration occurred, a single regional body was formed to ensure efficient delivery of natural resource programmes under both programmes.

Aboriginal people have lived in South East for at least 50,000 years. NRM South East Inc is having ongoing discussions with the region's traditional owner groups to ensure they have a meaningful role in the management of the region's natural resources.

• South East Queensland plan  - accredited February 2005

Current activities

NRM priority	Activities addressing the priority
Vegetation, flora and fauna	loss and degradation of native vegetation and habitat for native wildlife clearing and fragmentation of remnant vegetation associated with urban development the accelerated effects of erosion through urbanisation and the associated negative impacts on riparian vegetation and stream channels
Land management	uncontrolled or inappropriate fire regimes, as well as wildfire weed invasion of areas with high nature conservation value such as riparian zones and core retention areas inappropriate grazing practices
Salinity	impacts arising from increased salinity particularly associated with discharge areas changes in catchment hydrology from changing land use
Water quality	deterioration in water quality from diffuse and pollution discharges declining water quality and ecosystem health in fresh and tidal waterways, especially Moreton Bay lack of secure water supply (quality and quantity) for agricultural production, industry and urban growth

Contacts

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Regional Facilitators for Queensland.