The conference opened with a welcome to country by local indigenous representatives, speeches from respective shire mayors and the Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman MP.
Keynote speakers focused on
- coastal risk and the property market;
- legal mechanisms such as a rolling easement approach for addressing climate change and the protection of shorelines as they migrate in-land; and
- the scaling up of Blue Carbon restoration and rehabilitation projects and financial incentives.
A local Northern Rivers school student, Sabyah White, made an address titled ‘Biophilia’, which gave great hope that a future generation exists who will strive to protect our wonderful natural environments.
Two local community Dune Care groups were recognised for their incredible contribution to ecological sustainable management of the Byron Shire coastal zone.
You can view the full program on the Coastal Conference website.