Senior representatives of Federal Parliament, both Labor and Coalition will be in Albury to attend the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia Conference (SEGRA) 18-20 August.

“The sustainable development of Australia’s regions is everyone’s business. No one organisation, business or government can make it happen in isolation” said The Hon Gary Gray Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia when speaking about his attendance at SEGRA. “I am really looking forward to taking part at the SEGRA conference this August in Albury, a proud regional city.”

“The Rudd Government’s vision for regional development is about working together strategically, cutting through the old barriers and integrating planning across all levels of government and the community. Organisations like SEGRA also play a key role in bringing us all together.”

“The discussion is sure to be stimulating – the conference theme of Creative Solutions: expect them to be different will challenge us to look at the issues facing regional Australia in a new light, and to work innovatively to meet these challenges.”

In addition to the keynote opening addresses from The Hon Gary Gray, The Hon John Cobb, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Water Security will be delivering a SEGRA business breakfast and The Hon Warren Truss leader of the National Party will be attending the opening Sunday evening function.

‘SEGRA 2008 will be an excellent opportunity for delegates to advocate on behalf of their regions directly to the policymakers’, said Kate Charters, Convenor of SEGRA.

SEGRA this year has 90 speakers representing all regional interests. Through keynote addresses, open forums and panels and workshop settings delegates learn a lot and share a lot. A comprehensive networking program ensures that discussion and debate continues well after the formal sessions have closed.

To find out more or to register for SEGRA, please visit www.segra.com.au/segra

In the welcoming address from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Australia 2020 initiative the Prime Minister also identifies 10 categories which are useful umbrellas under which to capture approaches to the future.

Leading futurist Oliver Freeman, Managing Director of the Neville Freeman Agency, has collected these categories under the data clustering protocol used at the Neville Freeman Agency.

SOCIETY
- a long-term national health strategy – including the challenges of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing population
- strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion
- options for the future of Indigenous Australia

POLITICS
- the future of Australian governance: renewed democracy, a more open government (including the role of the media), the structure of the Federation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens
- Australia’s future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world

ECONOMICS
- future directions for the Australian economy – including education, skills, training, science and innovation as part of the nation’s productivity agenda

CULTURE
- towards a creative Australia: the future of the arts, film and design

TECHNOLOGY
- economic infrastructure, the digital economy and the future of our cities

The significance of the 2020 initiative and its relevance Regional Australia cannot be under-stated – futures-thinking is now a mainstream political activity.

Oliver Freeman will deliver a keynote address and conduct a workshop at the SEGRA Conference 18-20 August 2008. The address and futures workshop is designed to enhance our capacity to think creatively about future challenges and opportunities.

For further information about regional scenario planning please visit the SEGRA website.

The workshop facilitated by Assoc Prof Peter Waterman, Coordinator Climate Change Coasts and Catchments, University of the Sunshine Coast, Prof Bob Miles, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development, University of Central Queensland.

Climatic variability and extreme weather conditions have become a topical issue reaching the agenda of both private and public sector organisations and in particular those in regional Australia who rely heavily on primary industry and natural resources for their economy.

The workshop focuses on understanding the environmental, social and economic dimensions and responses for adapting to climatic variability. Adaptation needs to be mainstreamed into local and regional development policy, plans, programs and projects of governments and business. The Regional Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Workshop aims to show how this can be done. There will be case studies from local government and the Murray Darling Basin Commission showing successful applications and a hands on climate simulation model, Climsystems, suitable for application in your own region.

Associate Professor Waterman said:'’One of the tools that integrates data and models for examining impacts and adaptation to climate variability and change is the SimCLIM software modelling system. The workshop will give participants the opportunity for ‘hands on’ application of this system.’

“Approaching the workshop from a scientific, environmental, social and policy perspectives will ensure delegates are equipped to deal with and implement adaptation strategies.”

For a full copy of the SEGRA 2008 conference and workshop program and registration details please visit the SEGRA website: www.segra.com.au/segra or download a workshop registration here.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world's largest conservation eventheld every four years, that aims to improve the management of the natural environment for human, social and economic development. The next event will take place from 5 to 14 October, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. More than 8,000 leaders from government, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, business, UN agencies and social organizations will discuss and debate the world's most pressing environment and development issues.

Further information: http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/index.cfm

The third Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, Canada from 27 to 29 October, 2008. The conference will provide an opportunity for business leaders, travel and tourism professionals and community members to gain knowledge of the latest trends and key challenges facing ecotourism and sustainable tourism. The program will also incorporate innovative case studies and strategies for sustainable tourism development in the US and Canada.

Further information: http://www.ecotourismconference.org

http://www.goa.org.au/GuidesofAustralia.aspx

Guiding Organisations Australia, the national peak body for tour guides, will be holding their Inaugural Conference from 24 to 27 August 2008 on the Gold Coast. The program is aimed at raising the industry standard of tour guide practices through professional development activities and familiarisation visits.

Further information: http://www.goa.org.au/

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The Belgravia Health and Leisure Group which manages 50 sports, leisure and aquatic centres Australia-wide has been selected as the new operator of the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve Bathhouse. The iconic bathhouse has undergone a $10.6 million redevelopment including construction of a new building to house three public pools, and refurbishment of the massage, relaxation and private bathing rooms of the existing heritage-listed Edwardian building.

Further information: http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/Web3/majorproj.nsf/All
Docs/9A29EFE02AC240F0CA2571A900249744?OpenDocument&Expand=2.1&

http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/Web3/majorproj.nsf/AllDocs/9A29EFE02AC240F0CA
2571A900249744?OpenDocument&Expand=2.1&

Australia’s alpine resorts have finished a $25 million plus capital works program including fully automated snowmaking systems, the installation of 99 snowmaking guns, new grooming equipment, the first six seater chairlift in Australia and improvements in snow fencing and drainage. Significant investment has also been made in upgrading ski rental and children’s facilities, new lodge accommodation, shops and restaurants. Winter alpine tourism contributes $1.3 billion net to the national economy via 2.3 million skier day visitors.

Further information: http://www.asaa.org.au/templates/asa/page/page_standard.php?secID=922

Leading the way in innovate construction and environmental design, Logan City Council's SouthWest 1 development has been awarded the Earth Award by the Civil Contractors Federation (Queensland) for Category 4 – construction projects in Queensland with a value between $30 - $70 million.

Council won the award, in conjunction with site contractors Neumans and GHD. GHD and Tony Charters and Associates jointly developed the concept plan and pre-feasibility for the Loganholme Wetlands Complex providing key recommendations for the development of the site.

The Complex, which has attracted high quality green commercial tenants, is a master-planned 40ha mixed industry and business precinct. It is expected to create up to 2,000 new jobs in the city once fully tenanted.

The 80ha Berrinba Wetlands Park is placed beside it and is a combination of natural beauty, environmental features and recreational facilities.

The Civil Contractors Federation Earth Awards are designed to highlight distinction in construction technique, as well as environmental and project management.

Logan City Council will now be eligible for a national award, to be announced later this year.

Winners of the 2008 Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Awards include Singapore Airlines, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, Nihiwatu Resort in Indonesia and Cinnamon Island Alidhoo in the Maldives. This year the PATA Gold Awards attracted 258 entries from 108 travel and tourism organisations. Winners will receive their awards at the PATA Travel Mart in Hyderabad, India on 19 September 2008.

Further information: http://www.pata.org/patasite/index.php?id=128

The Institute for Tourism and Development is now accepting applications for the Film Contest for Sustainable Tourism. The award is given to professional productions which are committed to making tourism socially responsible, environmentally compatible and sustainable. Winners will take part in an awards ceremony during ITB Berlin in March 2009, where an estimated 11,000 exhibitors from across the globe will be present. Deadline for entries is 30 September 2008.

Further information: http://www.tourador-contest.org/tourador_start-en.html

http://www.emirates.com/english/about/emvironment/emvironment.aspx

Tony Charters and Associates released key learnings of the third stage of the Grey Nomad Mobile Workforce Project, funded under the Federal Government’s Mature Age Industry Strategy with support from Queensland Department of Employment and Training.

New research has revealed that experiences outweigh material possessions for Australia’s young people, with international travel topping the list for the next three to four years. The Shades of Green Report released by Contiki Holidays is a comprehensive overview of the views and opinions of the Australian youth travel market (18 to 34’s), providing the latest trends and insights with a focus on green and social issues.

Further information: http://www.contiki.com.au/pages/491-shades-of-green-report

A new survey by Deloitte shows business travellers have begun to perform some green practices routinely. The survey sampled 1,155 business travellers - defined as having taken at least one business trip in the past year that involved staying overnight at a lodging facility. The top five environmental actions business travellers expect lodging facilities to be taking are recycling, energy-efficient lighting, energy-efficient windows, placing cards in rooms to let guests request that sheets/towels not be changed and environmentally safe cleaning products.

Further information: http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/press_release/0,1014,sid%253D
2283%2526cid%253D206870,00.html

Conservation International has released a Practical Guide to Good Practice for Tropical Forest-Based Tours. The guide was developed by Tony Charters and Associates in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program, Rainforest Alliance, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Responsibletravel.com and other partners. It provides practical recommendations for tour operators to assess and improve their sustainability performance including visitor education, outreach to local communities, interacting with wildlife and good practices for specific tourism activities such as hiking, caving or boating.

Further information: http://www.ecotour.org/xp/ecotour/resources/publications_factsheets.xml

The Queensland Government is investing a further $6.5 million in Great Walks throughout Queensland an initiative to create a series of extended walks that provide visitors with access to the unique and breathtaking natural wonders and heritage of our parks and forests. After successfully building and opening six Great Walks the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is now preparing four more walks in Carnarvon, Conondale Range, Cooloola and Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail. Community consultation for these walks is well advanced with construction due to be completed by 2010.

Further information: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/great_walks/more_great_walks/

The Sustainable Tourism Criteria Initiative will bring together for the first time a globally relevant set of sustainability criteria for the hotel and tour operator sectors. It aims to develop a common understanding of what sustainable tourism means for the travel industry, media and governments. Consultation has involved more than 1000 stakeholders and a review of 50 certification and voluntary sets of criteria already being implemented around the globe. The criteria will be launched at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008.

Further information: http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org/

In 2009, Queensland will commemorate it’s independence from New South Wales with special celebrations across the length and breadth of the state funded by the Q150 Community Funding Program. Grants of between $2000 and $10,000 are available to assist not-for-profit incorporated community organisations, local councils and tertiary institutions in staging activities and projects that reflect the unique culture, heritage and aspirations of diverse communities. Applications close 5 September 2008.

Further information: http://www.q150.qld.gov.au/Funding/index.aspx