In September 2015, Mareeba Shire Council published the draft of a new plan for the Shire, which includes the Kuranda Region.

A community meeting was called in Kuranda on November 8th 2015 to discuss concerns about the latest draft plan.

The meeting resolved:

1/ To set up a ‘Friends of the Kuranda Region Planning Group’ (n.b. name since changed to Kuranda Region Planning Group)

2/ To note that Councillors and Council Officers who attended the meeting affirmed that they would regard the new Shire Plan, if and when approved by the State Government, as a “living document” open to amendment, including revision of maps in the plan.

3/ To develop a proposal to the State Government incorporating a request that any approval given to the latest MSC Draft Plan is conditional on systematic, high-quality remapping of conservation/biodiversity values, especially within (but not necessarily limited to) the Kuranda Region.

This process should be carried out with the participation of scientists with relevant expertise, local conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts and other interested participants. Acknowledging the limited resources available to the recently de-amalgamated Mareeba Shire Council, we believe it should be resourced and overseen by the State and/or Federal Government.

4/ That our aspiration for this region’s planning process is state-of-the-art, quality planning, that truly lays the foundations for genuine sustainability and biodiversity conservation.