Welcome to the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter

It’s been a busy time since the last edition of the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter. The relaxed COVID- 19 travel restrictions and dry season weather has meant that we’ve been busy out on ground making up for lost time in delivery of projects. We’re continuing to respond to the challenges that COVID-19 has created, and with extra safety in place we’ve managed to get projects underway. Although it’s only September, it feels like the race to the end of the year has begun.

In the last edition of the newsletter we mentioned the restructure of the organisation so we could deliver projects more efficiently. We have created two program teams—one focussing on Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality and the second focussing on Biodiversity and Fire Management. We highlighted the activities of the Biodiversity and Fire program in Issue 40, so in this edition we’re checking in on the activities of the Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality team.

This edition outlines the projects the team has been working on to increase the sustainability of the industries on Cape York and reduce the impacts of sediment and nutrient loss onto the Great Barrier Reef. This is highlighted in the article on the project at Beefwood Park where massive gully remediation work is underway.

This edition also highlights the work being done to develop the Community Action Plan for the Great Barrier Reef.

With 10 years’ experience behind us, the Board has decided to review the Board structure and composition. We recently met in Lockhart River for a strategy workshop where we looked at the current arrangements. This discussion is in line with the development of the new Corporate Plan and the review of the regional NRM plan for Cape York.

The next 12 months will be critically important for setting the direction for the organisation so be prepared for us to be out and about asking about what you think we have achieved in the last 10 years and what you see as the priorities going forward.

On 11 October 2020 Cape York NRM will turn 10 years old, and if all goes to plan we will have a celebration in line with the AGM on Saturday 28 November in Cooktown.

Once again, thank you for following and allowing us to support your great work across Cape York. I hope to see you somewhere on the Cape soon.

Warm regards John Gavin