Using spatial information in communicative regional resource use planning: A new challenge

Technical approaches still dominate regional resource use planning processes in Australia, despite increasing calls from stakeholder groups for greater participation. In response to these calls, communicative approaches to regional resource use planning are being adopted. Communicative planning converts natural resource planning (allocation) from a technical to a political process, albeit one well informed by sound technical information. It is in the application of communicative planning approaches that challenges exist in the future use of spatial information. These challenges are how to deliver spatial information into a socially (politically) complex natural resource planning process, so that the information can be intelligently used to impact on the decisions being made. From the CHRRUPP experience, there are no technological issues in this challenge. There are, however, issues in transferring spatial information use and interpretation skills from the technicians to the regional community. CHRRUPP has answered these challenges by initiating adult learning processes, which build the capacity of the stakeholders to use and interpret spatial information. CHRRUPP is also facilitating an increased supply of spatial information relevant to regional resource use issues. These processes build the capacity of the planning system to respond to current and future regional resource use issues. CHRRUPP is a LWRRDC funded research project into communicative regional resource use planning in the Central Highlands of Queensland. It is providing a framework for evaluating and reporting the challenges in the delivery, use and interpretation of spatial information in a communicative planning arena.