Gloucester is located on the South-Eastern part of our drying continent. It is between the coast and the Great Dividing Range, and so has a combination of geographic and cultural features which has made it a centre of food production, water catchment, water distribution and human occupation over many hundreds of years. Our natural and human resources make us stand out as our continent is impacted by climate changes, fuel crises, food production and distribution stresses and significant changes in energy generation and use.

Gloucester is exceptionally well endowed with the natural resources of water, fertile land, food producing experience and potential. We have the high conservation value Barrington Tops and the substantial economic and cultural benefit of a well developed visitor capacity.

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The community has kept pace with industrial, technological, commercial and cultural advances. The Gloucester Project develops partnerships with sources of advanced knowledge and research.

The 21st century brings new and urgent priorities affecting ALL aspects of a community's life. The Gloucester Project brings these new and urgent priorities to a typical community where all changes ultimately reach reality. The Gloucester Climate Change Research and Development program will provide a real life laboratory which can assist communities throughout the nation. Our food producing land and pure water which is diminishing elsewhere in the nation must be preserved and its sustainable use encouraged.


Like the rest of the world and its people, the Gloucester region will be faced with unprecedented pressures for change. The Gloucester Project will gather information which anticipates these changes and will help to co-ordinate the region’s resources and activities so that adjustments can be made to industries, services and lifestyles. These adjustments will build on the community’s skills and the region’s natural and cultural advantages and will bring to the region co-ordinated research and development initiatives. These will introduce and develop validated adjustments needed to maintain the economic and lifestyle status of the community.

The Gloucester region has characteristics which can be found in communities throughout the nation. Apart from its comprehensive food production industries, there are other industrial and commercial enterprises, private and government services and facilities, residential, recreational, cultural and environmental entities, with the full age range of residents. Government and private investment will be repaid manyfold as the lessons learned in the programs are distributed throughout the nation where similar community characteristics exist.

The costs and benefits of adjustments in all aspects of the community’s life will be measured in economic terms and in relation to effects on carbon emission rates.

Environment

In the Gloucester community the natural environment plays an important part affecting all aspects of our economy and quality of life.

We have adjacent, very high value portions particularly in the Barrington Tops area. These act as reservoirs of carbon absorption, biodiversity, water catchment and distribution, recreation and so have far reaching economic and social significance.

Climate change will stress and change this area and provide valuable research potential. The cost of fuel will curtail long distance travel and many more recreational visitors can be expected. This may be an economic advantage if managed properly.

Already the negative effects of excessive drying on the combustability of the natural environment, together with the likelihood of increasing lightning activity lead to the warning that bushfires may be a more serious threat.

As the species changes which are expected occur, we have an important source of research. However, if such areas are not understood or are inadequately managed there can be an unsatisfactory transfer of pests across the private-public land boundaries.

Tourism
Tourists provide a significant economic benefit to the Gloucester area.

Our proximity to the major population areas of the state, combined with increasing fuel costs makes the area even more attractive. The national parks and recreation areas, the beautiful farmland, rivers and well developed sporting facilities all contribute to the economic and aesthetic value of the area.

It is essential that development in the future preserves these qualities.

A legislative left-over from the previous centuries has given mineral extraction priority over food production and alternative economic and cultural activity. This priority is no longer as clear cut as in the past. Mining expansion and exploration if allowed to proceed in fertile and water producing areas, will jeopardise the economic and environmental basis of the Gloucester community. Such land-use is no longer compatible with 21st Century community and national need.

Existing excavation must be subject to rapid reclamation, as far as this is feasible. Conversion of further land with food and water potential should be subject to 21st Century evaluation processes.