Innovative Environmental

 

MEDIA RELEASE
INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NEEDS LOCALS


Independent candidate for Farrer, Louise Burge, said the environmental policies being developed for regional Australia need to be co-operative, consultative and innovative.

Mrs Burge, who has experience with natural resource management, said Federal policy development needed to respect the knowledge of local resource managers, and management of assets needed to be at a local level.

Mrs Burge said co-operative and consultative management which allowed natural resources to be conserved; horticultural, mining and pastoral industries to continue; and new industries such as eco-tourism to develop and thrive, needed to be pursued.

“I believe there can be a balance between conserving the environment while at the same time conserving the future of industries in the Eastern Riverina region,” she said.

“An example of how it can work so well is evident in the region’s Landcare movement, which promotes conservative land management, without negating the pastoral industries.

“Similarly, eco-tourism on working agricultural properties can promote the region and increase the knowledge of the local area, boost the farm income, while at the same time, promote and conserve the natural environment,” she said.

Mrs Burge said locals often had better knowledge of the grass roots issues in regard to conservation and natural resource management, and that should be utilised when policies were being developed, and management of regional areas undertaken.

“The people who live and work in the region know it the best, having that hands-on management at a local level will ensure any conservation of natural resources – be it forests, wetlands, or native scrub – is more successful than a dictatorial approach,” Mrs Burge said.

“And sometimes an innovative approach to such management needs to be taken, a one-size-fits-all approach can’t be taken when the area is as diverse as the Farrer electorate.”

Mrs Burge said having an independent voice in Federal parliament would ensure the ideas of such management could be heard loud and clear.

“We need to get the message to the policy makers that the people of the Eastern Riverina region know the region the best, and a consultative and co-operative approach fosters good relations,” she said.

END.

For further information contact Louise Burge direct on : 0428 984 570

or email Louise at : vote1@louiseburge.com.au