The Blueprint – Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about the Albury Wodonga region?

The Albury Wodonga region has several features that make it special. The geography includes a combination if Great Dividing Range foothills, 70 kilometres of the Murray flowing through it and extensive floodplains that have produced highly productive landscapes such as box-gum forests, river red gum woodlands and wetlands.

The development of the twin cities was guided for many decades by the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation that planned and reserved a network of environmental land. This legacy has been continued by a bond between Albury and Wodonga (and their Councils) that has generated a consistent approach across the border as reflected in the joint Regional Natural Environment Strategy.

These are some of the primary factors that make the Albury Wodonga region an influential area to study the opportunities for sustainable development.

 How was The Blueprint developed?

The Blueprint started as reflection on the data that Albury Conservation Company had generated through the programs it has implemented over 20 years. This includes its Threatened Species Monitoring Program that has been running since 2018, as well as specific research projects on Squirrel Gliders and Sloane’s Froglet. With support from the Ian Potter Foundation, the focus evolved to develop a document that could highlight the challenges and lessons learnt to a broader audience. To do this, ACC sought information and views of a range of organisations and individuals with extensive experience in conservation in the Albury Wodonga region.

How is this Blueprint different from existing strategies like the Regional Natural Environment Strategy (RNES)?

There are a range of documents that support the protection and management of natural resources in the Albury Wodonga region. State and Federal governments provide high level strategy and regulation of biodiversity. Local authorities have combined to create more specific approaches to the area. These continue to be important guides for Albury and Wodonga.

The Blueprint seeks to build on these foundations by providing perspective from local practitioners of biodiversity protection. As well as Councils it taps into the issues experienced and lessons learnt by community groups, researchers and conservationists. It looks back on the successes to help and inspire the existing and future community members to continue their efforts.

The Blueprint can also be a useful source of information for people outside the Albury Wodonga region to understand with more texture the response the community has made to environmental challenges. This could include investors seeking to connect the goals of a community group to their own objectives, or it could be Councils or community groups in another region looking for ideas to address their own concerns.

Is this a Council or government document?

The Blueprint represents the perspective of the Albury Conservation Company only. Many people from a range of organisations including Councils and community organisations were involved to the development of the document as we sought to identify the challenges and successes in natural resource management. The conclusions drawn from this information are that of Albury Conservation Company and do not represent the views of other organisations. However, we believe that a broad range of groups will support in general the outcome of this process and find The Blueprint a useful synthesis of current ideas.

How can the Blueprint be used?

 The Blueprint is a result of the contributions of many people with a great depth of experience in biodiversity in the Albury Wodonga region. Many of the recommendations and principles will be familiar to local residents involved in conservation. The Blueprint matches these views with monitoring data and practical case studies to provide a broad justification of the value and needs of environmental management in the area. The Blueprint highlights many opportunities that this can be used from engaging the community and to aligning with frameworks such as nature positive cities.

The information in The Blueprint can provide an entry point for people and organisations that are not currently involved in supporting the nature of the Albury Wodonga region. This could include new residents seeking opportunities to participate, local businesses wanting to know more about sustainable development or external funders looking to understand the needs and opportunities of local conservation groups.   

What species are the most important to protect?

Of course all species in nature are important. The Blueprint highlights the importance of threatened species listed through national legislation (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act) that are endangered due to low numbers and high threats. These include the Regent Honeyeater and Sloane’s Froglet. Other species such as the Squirrel Glider are considered priorities for conservation in NSW. Typically, threatened species management is similar to that required to manage all species such as protecting habitat from threats such as weeds and expanding it through revegetation.

How can residents of Albury and Wodonga get involved in conservation?

The Blueprint promotes the role of many community organisations contributing to the conservation of nature in the Albury Wodonga region. These groups undertake a range of activities from citizen science monitoring to planting more habitat for threatened species. Each group welcomes supporters and new members. Further details of the groups can be found on the Albury Conservation Company website, or the websites of Albury Council and Wodonga Council.

How can Developers contribute to better outcomes?

Land managers including Developers are critical in the supporting the biodiversity of the Albury Wodonga region into the future. The Blueprint identifies several important sources of information that can help Developers shape their infrastructure in ways that are more compatible with the environment. This includes accessing the information from a range of threatened species management programs as well as utilising the network of community organisations that can assist. The Blueprint recommends the “nature positive” frameworks as one of the useful guides to building nature friendly developments.

How will we know if actions outlined in The Blueprint are working?

The principles outlined in The Blueprint reflect the energy and expertise that community and government organisations are already applying to protect and enhance threatened species conservation. Many of the case studies identified in The Blueprint are continuing including the Albury Conservation Company threatened species monitoring program for the Squirrel Glider and the Sloane’s Champions citizen science monitoring program. The data collected by these organisations and programs will show how threatened species are faring as the environment changes through development and other influences.

There are other ways we might consider how The Blueprint is supporting conservation including its use in attracting new investment in conservation projects, greater participation by the local community and new techniques for sustainable development. While The Blueprint may be a useful tool to support this, it will be the people of Albury Wodonga who will drive success in the improvement of biodiversity in the region.

Where can I find more information?

A starting point can be the website of Albury Conservation Company where we include information on the programs we have implemented as well as links to information and groups working in conservation. Many the groups mentioned in The Blueprint have excellent websites that provide a rich amount of information on nature in the region. Local councils and state government organisations are similarly engaged in environmental protection and enhancement with a host of relevant data.