A storm in a beer can, what’s happening on the Cape & Summer Stickers

Weclome to the start of February! Hard to believe we’re already one month down, but we hope you’ve had time to enjoy Queensland’s natural beauty over the festive season. Our crew got together on the Sunshine Coast in January to map out Protect Beautiful Queensland’s areas of focus for the next two years. Doubling Queensland’s network of national parks and protected areas by 2030 means big moves during this term of government. To do that, we need to show how much our world-renowned nature and outdoor lifestyle means to people from the NSW border to the tip of the Cape. We’ll have more to share soon, but we also want to hear from you! Let us know what’s happening in your neck of the woods and how it might connect to our goal of keeping Queensland’s nature healthy and open for adventure. A storm in a beer can? You might have seen Great Northern in the headlines after a promotion to buy private land and add it to a National Park. Some folks swore off the beer from up here out of protest. It’s a shame there was so much misinformation over this. You can do all kinds of things in Queensland’s national parks and conservation areas – there are spots to hike, camp, canoe, four wheel drive, mountain bike and horse ride. They provide greater access to Australia’s world renowned nature for everyone and help keep it healthy. Local communities are key to shaping a future where conservation and recreation work hand in hand. With the right balance, conservation and recreation can thrive side by side—protecting our landscapes and making nature accessible for everyone. Understanding the Cape York World Heritage Bid Speaking of headlines, the Cape York World Heritage bid has been in the news lately. This one always comes with controversy, so it’s handy to know exactly what’s being proposed. A successful World Heritage bid does not change land tenure or exclude economic development. In many examples, world heritage status improves opportunity. For instance, fishing continues in parts of the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu’s tourism pulling power is at the center of the local economy. Protections are unique to specific areas and guided by unique values. World Heritage nominations also come with a management plan that outlines how areas are looked after. This will likely mean more resources for controlling pests and weeds on the Cape. This bid is also somewhat unique as it’s a disconnected patchwork of different areas — each with its own values. Some are cultural, some are ecological, and often the two overlap. We’re hopeful that as the World Heritage bid progresses, the loudest voice will be the Traditional Owners who have chosen to opt-in for global recognition. Sunset over Cape York. Photo: Peter Lik Sticker Giveaway Success And finally, we’ve had a great reaction to our summer holiday sticker giveaway! We’ve sent PBQ stickers all over the state and have seen them on surfboards, water bottles, and four-wheel-drives. It’s a nice reminder that the best adventures start in healthy nature. Thanks again to all our Protect Beautiful Queensland supporters. We’re starting the year full of hope that, with your support, we’re onto a winner with the vision of delivering a world-class conservation network fitting for one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.