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Regional Plan

The Northern Gulf NRM Plan is a compilation of local solutions developed by local people.
  • Plan Preparation: Graziers, farmers, fishermen, miners, traditional owners, tourism operators, conservationists, local government and scientists worked together to formulate a plan for natural resource management that secures the health of our economy, society and environment for future generations.
  • Purpose: The draft Northern Gulf Regional NRM Plan identifies the current condition, threats and responses of the region's natural resources and suggests ways in which government and communities can act to ensure the long term sustainability of resources.
  • Focus: The Regional NRM Plan's focus includes land management, biodiversity conservation, water quality and management, coastal and marine management, indigenous management and community capacity.
The Australian Government released their business plan for the Caring for our Country initiative in late 2008. In the plan, the Australian Government committed to provide regional NRM organisations, like the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, with secure base-level funding for 2008-2013 to achieve Caring for our Country targets within their regions.

As part of this commitment, regional NRM organisations are required to provide investment proposals (called Regional Investment Strategies) that deliver on these targets through the business plan. Additional Caring for our Country funding, above the secure base-level funding allocation, to achieve further targets can also be sought through competitive project submissions. The Northern Gulf Resource Management Group is awaiting the outcome of our investment proposal and competitive project submissions listed below:

  1. Regional Investment Strategy – serves as an addendum to the Northern Gulf Regional NRM Plan 2008. It provides specific actions, costs and timeframes to implement this plan and deliver the national priorities and targets, thus protecting the region’s critical assets and the services they provide.
  2. Mapping and recording of Indigenous natural and cultural resources in the northern Gulf of Carpentaria - map and record Indigenous natural and cultural resources for 6 language groups covering 320 km2 in the Northern Gulf Region 
    1. Aerial surveys to determine ground survey locations and access
    2. Field recording and mapping trips
    3. Biodiversity workshops
    4. Documentary, atlas and educational material developed for each language group
  3. Local Indigenous Solutions for a Global Problem in Northern Australia (Ghost nets)
    1. 35 indigenous partnerships for rangers to remove ghost nets and continue monitoring activities along 1500km coastline
    2. Provide skills and information so that indigenous communities are eventually able to self manage the ghost net threat
    3. Address the casual factors of the threats by contributing to the implementation of the “Threat Abatement Plan for Marine Debris”, raising awareness through local art projects, and build international partnerships to advocate change and design outreach tools designed for fishers in Australasia
  4. The Economic Value of Wetlands - Supporting decision making about ecologically sustainable development in northern Australia 
    1. Provides a knowledge base of the ecosystem services and total value of wetlands in the Gulf of Carpentaria. 
    2. Provides critical input into strategic assessment at the landscape/bioregional scale
    3. Enables public debate about the net benefits, and informs policy and management design—thus providing an essential foundation for the ecologically sustainable development of the Gulf of Carpentaria
  5. Safeguarding North Australia’s Wetlands - Proactive maintenance of wetlands’ ecological function in the Gulf of Carpentaria (Qld)
    1. Preventative maintenance of wetland function in lower Gulf of Carpentaria
    2. Formal conservation of wetlands – nature refuges
    3. Market-based incentives for undertaking preventative and restoration activities based on best available knowledge
    4. Education and consultation
    5. Research, monitoring and evaluation
  6. Defeating the weed menace in northern Australia: wet season aerial ignition of Rubber Vine - Reducing the impact of WONS across 76,000 ha by refining and applying techniques to aerially ignite Rubber Vine and other weeds across heavy, light and scattered infestations during the wet season when the risk of wildfire is minimal. 
  7. Sustainable Management of the Mutton Hole Wetlands 
    1. Control pests and weeds 
    2. Monitor hydrology and sedimentation rates
    3. Determine the impact of invasive species
    4. Understand the ecosystem of a Gulf flood plain wetland system and effects of flood
    5. Engage the local community in visitor management and wetland management activities. 
  8. Improving adoption and innovation of agricultural best practice in Far North Queensland (Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Area)
    1. Build resilience in farming practices and systems in MDWSA 
    2. Improved land and water management practices 
  9. Community Capital: Guardians of the Staaten – seeding perpetual management of a pristine habitat in northern remote Australia 
    1. Add 470,000ha to the National Reserve System
    2. Provide perpetual funding (100 years) for long term management to maintain the wilderness values of the Staaten River catchment over 2,500,000 ha
    3. Control wild pig numbers, establish weed monitoring and an early eradication program to keep the pristine values intact
  10. Sustainable landscape outcomes with the lifestyle farming (peri-urban) sector in Northern Australia 
    1. Facilitate sustainable land management on small rural properties 
    2. Improved knowledge and skills in the recognition and management of native (and naturalized) grasses and weeds, management of pests and weeds
    3. Improved capacity to manage soil health
    4. Increased re-vegetated and rehabilitated land.
    5. An accreditation scheme that encourages and recognises good management within the ‘lifestyle’ farming sector
  11. Community Capital: Enhancing biodiversity and land management practices in the Northern Gulf region through investing in community engagement, skills and knowledge 
    1. Knowledge/skills events 
    2. Funding local projects 
    3. Sponsorships 
    4. Regional newsletter and website
    5. Audio equipment usage and training/video recording and production

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