Welcome from the RLOSAC Chair

We would like to extend a warm invitation to all who are interested and passionate about our unique regional landscape, our rural production areas and the preservation of our vital open space.

The South East Queensland (SEQ) region is Australia’s fastest-growing metropolitan region, attracting on average 66,000 new residents each year over the past five years. The region is also experiencing rapid employment growth and is a significant economic hub with national and international recognition.

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005 – 2026 was implemented to manage this growth and associated changes in the most sustainable way and to protect and enhance the quality of life in the region. This Forum is focused on the 80% of the region outside the Urban Footprint, a timely reminder that the SEQ Regional Plan is more than an urban growth strategy.

The rapid population growth of SEQ has the potential to adversely impact on environmental assets, agricultural production and green space, both locally and regionally. Many stakeholders have publicly raised concern that growth and development will overtake the capacity of the region’s natural environment to sustain the lifestyle, living and community well-being that attracts people to the SEQ region.

The 2008 SEQ Living Landscapes Forum is the inaugural forum hosted by the Regional Landscape and Open Space Advisory Committee (RLOSAC) to raise the profile of the regional landscape to a prominent policy position and to provide access to the expertise behind the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

2008 SEQ Living Landscapes Forum will provide input to the review of the SEQ Regional Plan and will provide an opportunity for discussion and information sharing on key issues facing the regional landscape to:

• form resolutions and identify actions required to address key issues
• provide input into the review of the SEQ Regional Plan
• ground truth issues and problems and solutions
• celebrate values of regional landscape in a positive way.

Whatever values of the Regional Landscape you are passionate about, be it nature conservation, rural production, outdoor recreation, scenic amenity, Indigenous and non-indigenous landscape heritage, we extend to you an invitation to participate and contribute in this process. The Forum will challenge and inform; it is focused on outcomes with specific question to be answered. Your attendance is welcomed to help us address these challenging issues.

We will bring together those with experience in managing the regional landscape and rural production areas of South East Queensland to contribute and work towards the delivery of the new SEQ Regional Plan 2009.

Thank you for providing support to ensure a sustainable future of South East Queensland.

Darryl Low Choy AM MBE RFD PhD

Chair - Regional Landscape and Open Space Advisory Committee