The Kimberley Roundtable identified key principles
for appropriate development and a number of main actions that need
to happen for sustainable development to occur.
- Development proposals recognise that the Kimberley region is a
place of special cultural and environmental values with national
and international significance.
- Development proposals acknowledge that culture guides economic
activity for Indigenous people, and appropriate development must be
based on healthy country and strong culture.
- Development proposals recognise and respect the rights of
Traditional Owners to make decisions about their country.
- Development proposals consider issues of Aboriginal access to
land and equity of land tenure.
- Conservation and cultural management are recognised as valuable
and important contributions to the economy and society: The local
economies of hunting,fishing, looking after people, culture and
country are valued and supported;
The rights of Traditional Owners are recognised when conservation
areas are established;
Senior Indigenous people are supported in the transmission of
knowledge and confidence to young people; and Benefits from
cultural information are returned to the holders of that
information.
- The people of the region are able to participate in planning
for the region, are supported by government in that process, and
their views are respected and included when implementing planning
outcomes.
- The Fitzroy River, ground-waters and conservation areas are
protected by a legal framework.
- A new economic system is developed, based on a diversity of
enterprises that support the needs and wishes of Kimberley
people.
- Enterprise planning and management is built upon skills and
knowledge transfer, and is tailored to the needs of the local
area.
- Successful and emerging local enterprises are supported by the
establishment of region-wide co-operative networks.
The 16 Actions
Guidelines for Sustainable Development
Action 1: Develop an enforceable Statement of Guidelines for
sustainable development in the Kimberley.
Research
Action 2: Develop a long-term, integrated, and co-operative
research program that includes the provision of results to the
Kimberley community.
Action 3: Conduct a survey of local community interest in
sustainable agriculture or other developments.
Support and Integration
Action 4: Establish systems and structures to promote, assist
and support new and existing sustainable and appropriate
enterprises.
Conservation Areas
Action 5: Develop processes that promote and support culturally
appropriate conservation areas.
Action 6: Put in place real and effective arrangements for the
co-management of the conservation estate by Indigenous people.
Planning
Action 7: Investigate, develop and implement a planning process
that includes Kimberley people as main stakeholders and
decision-makers.
On-the-Ground Initiatives and Activities
Action 8: Promote and support on-ground initiatives managed and
operated by local people.
Action 9: Develop ‘quality and integrity’ control
systems for tourism activities, which include the
Roundtable’s ‘Statement of Principles’ for
Kimberley development.
Action 10: Develop and support enterprises built on cultural
knowledge and expertise.Intellectual and Cultural Knowledge and
Education
Action 11: Develop and support processes to protect and enhance
cultural knowledge, and ensure that it is passed to future
generations.
Action 12: Provide legal recognition and protection of
intellectual knowledge as the property of Traditional Owners.
Action 13: Develop and support processes to facilitate the
teaching of Indigenous culture, knowledge and language in schools
and other training places.
Funding
Action 14: Develop a streamlined and regionally controlled
funding system that allows ready access to funds that support
appropriate development initiatives.Land Tenure, Land Access and
Land Management
Action 15: Develop and implement a process to efficiently and
quickly deliver land title or access to land where appropriate.
Action 16: Provide effective means for control of and access to
land where Native Title exists.
See main story at left: Kimberley appropriate economies
roundtable project
Articles
Kimberley appropriate economies roundtable project
In October 2005 a landmark roundtable forum the Kimberley Appropriate Economies Roundtable was held in Fitzroy Crossing West Kimberley to explore the sorts of development people saw as appropriate for the Canning Basin and Fitzroy… [
read more...]
