The Condamine Catchment Strategic Plan was endorsed by the Queensland Landcare and Catchment Management Council in 1996. The Catchment Strategy is a 'living' document and substantial time has been spent reviewing the strategies and actions, taking account of milestones achieved, progress made, outcomes delivered, new issues and emerging priorities.

The Condamine Catchment Management Association (CCMA) has prepared this draft document in conjunction with the catchment community, to reflect the views of the people living within the Condamine catchment. This plan outlines broad strategies to appropriately manage our natural resource issues, which have been identified by the catchment community as priorities.

Our Catchment Vision

'Our Catchment, Our Community, In Harmony'

Our Catchment Goals

• The Condamine catchment community managing the natural resources of the catchment in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner in the long term.
• Coordinated and cooperative action by all involved in the management and use of our natural resources to address land, water and vegetation degradation and social and economic issues effectively.

Our Catchment Mission

To have all levels of government working in partnership with the community and industry to develop and implement action plans for the balanced and ecologically sustainable use of the Catchment's natural resources.

Identified key issues

The Condamine catchment community has identified thirteen key issues requiring priority attention in relation to natural resource management (NRM). Managing these issues in a way that the community finds acceptable will have the greatest impact and benefit for the long-term sustainable future of the catchment. These issues are (listed alphabetically):

Strategic plan, draft format and structure

Catchment Strategic Overview
This section outlines background information relating to: the development of the Condamine Catchment Strategic Plan; the CCMA; and a catchment overview.

Condamine Catchment Strategic Plan

Each key issue is listed in alphabetical order. A brief outline of the issue is provided followed by the strategic direction and desired outcomes. Performance indicators have been highlighted to assist the CCMA to monitor the implementation of the catchment strategy.

Targets

A snapshot of why and how targets can be identified for the Condamine catchment has been presented. More information will be added to this section as information becomes available.

Appendices

This section encompasses a number of appendices that contribute to the overall document. Some additional background information has been listed as well as an easy reference to some of the current activities that are already underway in the Condamine Catchment. This reference material can be drawn upon to maximise use of available resources.

CCMA Key Strategies 2001-2002

The focus of the CCMA during the next 12 months will be centred around the specific strategies detailed below (in alphabetical order).

Communication, Education and Awareness

• Promote sub-catchment action planning to address core issues identified within the Condamine Catchment Strategic Plan.
• Actively promote the concept of NRM at a school and community level.

Economic and Social Capacity

• Support the investigation and implementation of production systems and practices which are, or have the potential to be ecologically sustainable.

Floodplain Management

• Develop and implement a community owned management plan for the whole of the Condamine Floodplain.
• Support processes for developing equitable sharing and integrated management of river floodplain and overland flows.

Land Use and Management

• Encourage the adoption of conservation farming and best management practices.
• Gain detailed knowledge of salinity outbreaks in the catchment, promote sound catchment practices and monitor progress.
• Improve vegetation management practices to minimise land degradation issues and to improve biodiversity within the landscape.
• Encourage the coordination of regional planning recognising current and potential land degradation issues across the catchment.

Nature Conservation

• Improve community awareness and understanding of the region's natural environment and assist people to develop a sound working knowledge of ecological concepts.
• Compile and distribute comprehensive baseline information about the region's natural environment, rare and endangered species, ecological processes and threats to biodiversity.

Pest Animals and Weeds

• Raise community awareness of the appropriate management and impacts of major pest plants (declared and environmental) and animals.

Riverine Management

• Support the development and implementation of riparian vegetation and wetland retention and rehabilitation plans at catchment and sub-catchment level.
• Identify and promote incentives for landholders to use recognised 'best practice' land use and management to minimise the impact of wastes /nutrients /sediment /weeds on riparian zones.

Water Access, Use and Management

• Determine flow sharing requirements for the Condamine Catchment.
• Implement appropriate plans and actions to achieve long-term sustainable groundwater use.

Water Quality

• Ensure water quality (surface and ground) is adequately considered and addressed in all planning and approval processes.
• Identify hot-spots and develop specific plans to implement best management practices for the protection of water quality.
• Support community participation in the development of Resource Operations Plans.