Capricorn Coast destination makes firm pledge at national summit
Posted on September 13th, 2022
As a member of the Regional Activators Alliance (RAA), formed by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), Capricorn Enterprise CEO, Mary Carroll was proud to join a panel discussion on behalf of the destination at the Regions Rising National Summit, 13-14 September in Canberra.
Following the Regionalisation Consultation Paper ‘Rebalancing the Nation’, which was disseminated in March 2022, several regions made pledges as part of the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 under 5 key pillars including: Jobs and Skills, Population, Liveability, Productivity and Innovation, and Sustainability and Resilience.
The new Framework, which was launched at the National Summit this week by RAI CEO Liz Ritchie places 20 key targets at the centre of strengthening our regions which will close the divide between life in the city and the country.
It focusses on regional housing, education, health, jobs and skills, digital inclusion, transport, childcare, community participation, migration, climate, innovation, and the resilience of regional communities – as well as population.
Joining facilitator Kath Sullivan, ABC regional and rural reporter, together with Tracey Squire from Albury City Council, GippsTech CEO and Founder, Elena Kelareva and Director of Regional Development at RDA Goldfields Esperance, Raz Ion, Mary spoke on behalf of our pledge to achieve the ECO Destination Certification for the Capricorn Coast by the end of 2024.
In the category of Sustainability and Resilience, Capricorn Enterprise, in partnership with Livingstone Shire Council committed the following pledge:
We pledge to achieve the Eco Destination Certification by the end of 2024. Through partnership and collaboration, the Capricorn Coast, Queensland (within the Local Government Area of Livingstone Shire Council) will achieve Eco Destination Certification with Eco Tourism Australia by the end of 2024. By responding to the 73 criteria required to complete this certification, the Capricorn Coast will continue to thrive as a nature-based tourism destination with an emphasis on sustainable tourism, nature and environmental management through strong community and stakeholder connections. Our pledge will help support Sustainability and Resilience to Rebalance the Nation.
“The Eco Destination Certification Program is a world first by Ecotourism Australia and our goal is for the Capricorn Coast to become accredited as an Eco Destination within the coming years,” Mary said.
“The Eco Destination Certification program highlights destinations that are backed by strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provide high-quality nature-based experiences within the destination.”
We currently have six local operators on the Capricorn Coast who have already received Eco Accreditation at various levels including Pumpkin Island (Advanced Ecotourism), Capricorn Caves (Advanced Ecotourism), Capricorn Star Charters (Ecotourism), Coral Inn Boutique (Ecotourism), Keppel Dive (Ecotourism) and Freedom Fast Cats (Ecotourism).
Currently, Port Douglas is the only destination in Queensland which is Ecotourism Accredited (achieved in 2019) and one of only four destinations in Australia which currently boast Eco Destination Certification.
The Regional Australia Institute’s work over the past decade has firmly positioned the Institute as Australia’s leading organisation on regional issues. Their commitment to regionalisation is more than an agenda on decentralization; it’s an ambition to grow.
The National Summit provided a forum for RAI to set a target of 11 million people living prosperously outside the capital cities by 2032. Achieving this target will see an extra 500,000 people living in the regions, above the estimated prediction of 10.5 million.
Capricorn Enterprise worked closely with the RAA/RAI over the past 12 months, celebrating the launch of their Move to More consumer-facing campaign, which placed Yeppoon as one of the top five towns researched as an attractive and viable alternative to city living. With 37% of Australia’s population living in regional Australia, the RAI’s $5 million-dollar initiative promoted opportunities for a more affordable lifestyle and better work-life balance.
A full copy of the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 can be found here.
