Pictured: John Connell and Dr Claire Holland present at the inaugural conference of the Research for Ethical Development network in Cairns. [Photo credit: Simon Foale]

Presentations

In early July, NQCC volunteer and retired Environment Scientist David Cassells attended the annual Developing Northern Australia Conference in Mackay. Here, he presented "The need for Integrated Catchment Management: A Case Study in the Burdekin River Basin". At this conference, attended by many ministers, he spoke directly with Senator Nita Green (special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef) and the Hon Madeleine King (Minister for Northern Australia).

In mid-July, JCU's new cross-disciplinary research group - Research for Ethical Development (RED) held their inaugural conference in Cairns. Here, John Connell and fellow authors A/Prof Carmen Reaiche and Dr Claire Holland made a presentation entitled "Emerging Issues and Need for New Governance Mechanism on the Burdekin Basin", to raise issues affecting the Burdekin Basin from a governance perspective.  

We continue to receive much interest in our campaign to ensure the Burdekin doesn't become the next Murray-Darling.

Letters

Following the Federal election, we have written letters to various Ministers and Senators, tailored to their portfolios and covering one of more of three key themes:

• Management of the environment and natural resources;
• Opportunities for improving water-efficiency in the Lower Burdekin (and associated environmental outcomes); and
• The questionable use of public funds for business cases for dam proposals in the Burdekin River Basin.

These letters are available to read here, and future correspondence will be posted to the same webpage. We will keep you updated with any responses!