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Abstract
At a moment when regionalisation and regionalism are being widely promoted across a range of policy sectors, this paper argues that much regional activity, including regional environmental management, is often the product of interactions, resources and opportunities at other scales. The paper shows how local and extra-regional interactions, resources and opportunities influence environmental management at the regional level in Australia by the development of a case analysis of Far North Queensland. It finds that much of the current thinking about regionalisation and regionalism ignores these multiscalar dimensions. This can impede and undermine efforts to manage the environment effectively at the regional level. The paper identifies some opportunities to improve regional environmental management activities in Australia and draws out the broader implications for other policy sectors and other countries embracing the movement towards regionalism/regionalisation. The relationship between governance by network at the regional level and the power and control of central government is highlighted. The paper also calls for further research into how governments and other actors successfully manage multiscalar relations of governance in order to promote (or impede) specific public policy initiatives.
The author gratefully acknowledges support from Land and Water Australia and the Rainforest Co-operative Research Centre to complete the case study dimensions of this research.
Notes
1. The creation of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in 1988, on-ground results (for example, re-vegetated areas) and less tangible successes (such as environmental plans) are frequently held up as models to be emulated. For a detailed exposition, see Morrison Citation(2004) and McDonald and Lane Citation(2000).
2. Operating under the Queensland Local Government Act 1993.
3. Administering former reserves under a special form of title known as Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) under the Queensland Aboriginal Land Act 1991.
4. The Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Management Park Authority.
5. The State of Queensland.
6. The Government of Australia.
7. It is important to note here that the 56 NRM regions in Australia vary significantly. In particular, different partnership models exist in different States. Queensland regions exist under incorporation law, rather than enabling statute, whereas regions in other States may be statutory authorities in their own right. Decision-making structures and processes also vary (see Morrison, Citation2007).
8. Many other policy sectors (such as health, education, economic development) are also organised regionally. As one actor exclaimed, “There are too many regional approaches to choose from!” (interview with environmental manager for a statutory authority, 2001).
9. For example, see Reynolds, Citation2003; Bolton, Citation1963. It is also worth noting here that Queensland public administration has been historically characterised by a high level of decentralisation, with high levels of discretion in some regional State offices (see Kellow and Niemeyer, Citation1999; Wiltshire, Citation1976).
10. Including the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Aboriginal Land Councils and traditional owners.
11. Also the Queensland State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and the Commonwealth Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, Native Title Act 1993 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.