BRIEFING ~ SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER
system, ensure quality of packages & review of product cycle
PURPOSE
To outline & define a collaborative approach, shared leadership &
responsibility, for the sustainability of the New England Region.
Further, to define the scope for participation in the ongoing
development, implementation & usage of the New England
Sustainability Strategy (including the Strategy itself, the Brand, Web
Portal, Decision Making, Dialogues, Scorecard, etc.)
STRATEGIC QUESTIONS
• What goes in the Charter (eg. purpose, sustainability principles
& values, vision & strategies, participation in decision-making)
• How is the brand used & cared for?
• How is the web portal used?
• What other communication & promotion is possible?
RESEARCH OUTCOMES
Waterfall Way EcoTourism Initiative ~ Regional Charter
• Co-ordinate marketing, facilitate an integrated e-marketing & booking
www.ness.wikidot.com
Page 1 of 2
•
•
Collaborative monitoring of holistic indicators of sustainability
Own the Brand
• Incubate, support & co-ordinate packages & network of tourism operators &
supporting service providers
• Support educational, local history - storytelling, recreational-health, cross
cultural & environmental awareness opportunities for visitors, tourists & others
• Support & help integrate stakeholders, communities, various government
agencies & councils to co-manage sustainable development of the Track
Network and greater region as a sustainable eco-tourism destination
Cairns Charter on Partnerships for EcoTourism
• Respect each partner’s aspirations & accommodate their operational
needs, including respect for social & cultural values
• Value each party’s contributions – acknowledging traditional inputs such as
•
financial capital & less tangible factors, such as intellectual property
Identify & provide resources that allow local communities to deal on equal
terms with other partners
• Work together to ensure partnerships benefit natural areas in which eco-
tourism occurs
• Work together in transparent planning processes to define milestones,
monitor performance, evaluate goals & objectives
• Ensure eco-tourism regulatory systems reward best practice, taking a
performance based approach rather than managing for minimum
standards
• Establish information networks to facilitate information sharing among
stakeholders & equitable access for all parties to expertise & resources
Sustain Northern Rivers ~ Climate Change Collaboration Agreement
• Core Agreements
◦ Actively engage the whole community in action on climate change;
NESS is an initiative of
BRIEFING ~ SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER
◦ Believe community engagement & the fostering of stakeholder;
partnership is essential to strengthening the social & economic resilience
EXISTING NETWORK GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES
of the region; &,
In addition to the 2½ years of work on NESS, the following existing
◦ Accept the responsibility of the Northern Rivers region to make its best
possible contribution to achieving national & global climate change network governance structures have been considered:
mitigation, adaptation & sustainability transition objectives. • Waterfall Way Eco-Tourism Initiative
• Signatories to the Agreement each appoint a representative to the • Cairns Charter
Steering Committee, who in turn are entitled to one vote on decisions, and
• Sustain Northern Rivers (Climate Change Collaboration)
rotating authority as Chair
• Voluntary collaboration between the signatories & should not be construed • Visa International Association (Chaordic Organisation)
as in any way creating legal obligations or duties & all organisations • Rochdale Principles for Co-Operatives
involved in the collaboration have a right to participate in setting the terms • Greening Australia ~ Habitat 141 & Gondwana Link
of their participation
• Avoid wasteful duplication of effort & will collaborate to achieve the most
efficient & equitable deployment of available resources
• Establish & monitor key indices of sustainability in the region and review the
regional climate change goals & targets against these indices & evolving
national & international standards
• Signatories agree to explain the purpose of the Agreement & promote its
objectives to their own members, constituents/clients & through their
networks across the region

www.ness.wikidot.com NESS is an initiative of

Page 2 of 2