Action planning workshops a success

Over the past several months, community members in south-east Cape York have come together during five interactive workshops to develop the Cape York Reef Community Action Plan (CAP).

The workshops included community events held in Wujal Wujal, Cooktown and Hope Vale, as well as a school workshop at Endeavour Christian College and a school holiday session with young Reef enthusiasts, and were well attended by a range of community members including Traditional Owner Groups, land managers, scientists, local council members and ranger groups.

Participants worked through the process of developing ‘roadmaps’ for a marine-related environmental value or issue that they cared about.

A ‘roadmap’ will illustrate the path to a proposed project outcome—an example being the reduction of marine debris washing ashore onto Cooktown beaches. The roadmap will provide a strategic overview of the major elements of a project, and can be used in the production of an application for project funding.

Cape York NRM Project Officer Harry James was thrilled with the workshop results.

‘We had a fantastic turnout at all of the workshops. It was so much fun guiding the process and everyone was enthusiastic, engaged, and ready to share their ideas.

‘We had an impressive range of roadmaps made by the community—from improving turtle management to reducing the impacts of visitors at tourist areas.

‘I’m excited to compile these roadmaps into a Reef Community Action Plan that is a valuable resource for local people. The end goal is to see these ideas funded, and implemented on the ground by the community attracting so many great benefits for the local environment and the people who enjoy it.'

Dabu Jajikal Corporation’s Marie Shipton who attended the Wujal Wujal workshop found the experience very valuable.

‘The CAP Workshop gave our Traditional Owners the opportunity to work towards more funding so we can ensure the right people are in the right place doing the right thing.’

The CAP will be a resource for communities to voice their greatest needs and aspirations, providing a platform to take targeted actions and apply for future funding opportunities. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation will compile input from six Queensland regions to create the state’s overall Plan that will identify shared goals for community Reef protection.

The final Community Action Plan will be launched by April 2021

To find out more, contact Harry at 0427 994 333 or harry.james@capeyorknrm.com.au

The Cape York Reef Action Plan is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and delivered by Cape York NRM with support from South Cape York Catchments