BDTNRM is undertaking a range of initiatives to build on and improve our relationships and engagement with our stakeholders and partners including:

·         Strengthening the capacity of the Community and Engagement Team with four Natural Resource Management Facilitator Positions. The positions within the team have now been filled, with staff located strategically, across the region. Two positions are hosted by DPI&F in Charters Towers and Emerald, one position is hosted by Local Government in Bowen and one position is based in Townsville and works across Townsville/Thuringowa and Burdekin.

·         Establishing a Coastal and Marine Advisory Group (CAMAG) to provide guidance to our Coastal and Marine Programme.

·         Redeveloping the BDTNRM website. The site is proving to be an information source which is attracting increasing use by our partners, stakeholders and the community generally.

 BDTNRM is initiating networking, partnership building and capacity building opportunities including:

·         Conduct ing Water Quality Improvement Plan Steering Committee meetings

·         Conduct ing electronic monitoring & evaluation data collection system training workshops

·         Conducting Best Management Practices Scenario Modelling Workshop for Sugar Water Quality Group

·         Delivering Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Training for NRM partners and stakeholders

·         Delivering GPS and GIS training workshops for landholders

·         Delivering BDTNRM Water Quality Monitoring On-line Collaboration Space (OLCS) training workshop

·         Conduct ing a range of Industry Engagement Workshops

·         Conducting Social and Economic Impact Assessment Training Workshop attended by internal staff as well as employees of GBRMPA and Terrain NRM.

·          Sponsoring attendance of 7 Landcare members at the State Landcare Conference in Mackay,  five of whom were long term active Landcare members who had never attended a Landcare Conference.

·         Major sponsor of the National Indigenous Land and Sea Conference in Cardwell. Assistance was provided to displays and facilitation of workshops.

·         Convening a major workshop with key stakeholders to develop a Regional Pest Management Strategy

·         Hosting a two day forum “Burdekin Dry Tropics Region Water Quality Monitoring Link-up” In collaboration with ACTFR, DNR&W, EPA and Townsville City Council,

·         Biodiversity and Coastal and Marine web portals were updated significantly to enhance public access to information about these programmes.

·         Establishing an on-line collaborative workspace for water quality management practitioners working in the Burdekin Dry Tropics.

·         BDTNRM CEO is an active member of the North Qld Regional Water Supply Strategy Steering Committee.

·         Establishing a Coastal and Marine Advisory Committee (CAMAG) with technical experts including scientists, consultants, and government staff (QEPA, DPI&F, GBRMPA, and Local Government) represented to provide technical and strategic advice to BDTNRM on Coast and Marine matters.

·         Ongoing BDTNRM representation in the Townsville Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC).

·         Hosting a Local Government NRM liaison forum

·         Developing and coordinating a variety of Coastcare week activities

·         Developing a BDTNRM “Coastcare Grants” Programme

·         Developing an Memorandum Of Understanding between GBRMPA and BDTNRM around improved alignment and investment in the Reef Guardian Council programme.

·         Negotiating agreements with Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils for fencing, access track development, coastal revegetation rubbish and weed removal.

·         Developing additional negotiated agreements with Burdekin Shire Council, Bowen Shire Council and Palm Island Council around various priority sites focussing on rubbish removal, dune stability works, beach access, weeding and revegetation.

·         Showcasing the ‘Planning for NRM Change’ project through presentations to the Reef Guardian Council (Burdekin) and the Local Government Facilitators Network.

·         Initiating a partnership with GBRMPA’s Reef Guardian Schools Program

·         CEO, Chairman and BDTNRM staff attending regular subregional NRM group meetings, with BBIFMAC, Desert Uplands, Dalrymple Landcare, Belyando-Suttor Implementation Group and other Landcare/Community NRM group meetings.

·         Developing  a range of initiatives and activities aimed at improving the quality and flow of information to the regional community, including ‘Burdekin Bark’ - quarterly newsletter with in-depth descriptions of BDTNRM activities, ‘Burdekin Bites’ - a fortnightly e-mail bulletin keeping the community up to date with NRM activities in the region.

·         Conducting BDTNRM Monitoring & Evaluation and ‘contextual data’ workshops involving community and landholders.

·         Holding NLP capacity building workshops in Collinsville and Eungella

·         Contacting and increasing collaboration with a broader range of industry bodies (eg Pineapple,Turf and Flower Growers).

·         The Land and Sea Coordinator assisted the Gudjuda’s Cultural Education Awareness Programme to develop and coordinate a ‘Kids Caring for Country’ event in August involving 200 primary school students from Townsville and Thuringowa.