The proposal to facilitate local government input to the accredited regional natural resource management plan, endorsed by Health and Environmental Services Regional Organisation of Councils - North Queensland (HESROC) at its 3 December 2003 meeting, was presented to the Burdekin Dry Tropics Board at their meeting on 4 February 2004. The outcome was a commitment by the Board to support the project in conjunction with HESROC.

• HESROC is coordinating the project on behalf of local government in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region. The project is not exclusive to HESROC Councils.
  
  
• The immediate aim is to facilitate local government input to the accredited regional NRM plan for the entire Burdekin Dry Tropics region.
  
  
• The project is part of a broader initiative to effectively engage all local government in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region in natural resource management (NRM).
  
  
• The Burdekin Dry Tropics Regional Local Government Network (NRM) will be formed as part of the broader initiative. This will be an independent network involving all Councils.
  
  
• An experienced NRM consultant (John Gunn - Earth Environmental) has been appointed to carry out the initial work and provide ongoing strategic support.
  
  
• A local government regional NRM support Project Officer will be employed to assist local government with NRM involvement across the entire Burdekin Dry Tropics region.
  
  
• A Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Regional Competitive Funding application will be submitted for an ongoing local government regional NRM support Project Officer position.
  
  
• The project is designed to compliment and assist the sub regional NRM groups with local government involvement and input to the accredited regional NRM planning process

• Consultation and liaison with the Burdekin Dry Tropics Board (BDTB) and sub regional NRM groups;
  
  
  • BBIFMAC - Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Committee · BRIG - Burdekin Rangelands Implementation Group
  • NaREF - Natural Resources and Environmental Forum for the Townsville and Thuringowa Coastal Plains
  • BSIG - Belyando Suttor Implementation Group.

• Development of a Communication and Consultation Strategy to guide the project.
  
  
• Preparation of 'local government friendly' summary documents on the regional NRM planning process.
  
  
• Assisting local government to understand the accredited regional NRM planning process.
  
  
• Assisting local government input to the accredited plan.
  
  
• Assisting local government with reviews of draft plan outputs.
  
  
• Coordinating a regional local government response to draft plan outputs.
  
  
• Coordinating a regional local government perspective for the accredited regional NRM plan.

• Project update for May to October 2004
  
  
• Project update until May 2004