Rotarians Colin Scobie and Peter Row caught up with Andrew Powell, Tricia O'Callaghan, Tash Wheeler, Sofie Formica and Dave Copeman amongst others at the launch of DESTINATION 2045 held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Monday evening, June 2. The ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) members also networked with operators and entrepreneurs interested in bold and audacious ecotourism ideas.
DESTINATION 2045 is a bold 20-year vision for the future of Queensland tourism.
It has six strategic priorities designed to supercharge Queensland’s tourism future:
- 45X45 – supporting 45 exciting new ecotourism experiences by 2045, delivering more experiences in nature and showcasing our natural assets.
- Making Queensland Australia's event capital – attracting world-class events for locals and visitors.
- Connecting Queensland – a new fund to attract direct flights to new markets, including India, and boosting connections to regional Queensland.
- More experiences – partnering with industry and targeted investment, including rejuvenating the Great Barrier Reef islands.
- Home of the holiday – bringing in more visitors through world-class marketing.
- A big boost for tourism operators – streamlining regulation to empower Queensland tourism businesses to modernize and thrive.
“Our 20-year tourism plan aims to ensure Queensland’s iconic attractions and regions are more accessible to the world, creating jobs and boosting local economies along the way,” state Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said.
India on the target list as Queensland launches new aviation fund. Australian Aviation. 2 June 2025.
The Qld Government intends to review relevant legislation and associated regulations with a view to making changes within 12 months.
It is also committed to removing red tape and green tape --- excessive bureaucracy and time-consuming permitting procedures relating to environmental initiatives.
As environmental advocates, Colin and Peter believe environmental legislation should not only 'protect and conserve', it should also 'restore and improve' the environment.
As citizen scientists, they believe that saltwater electrolysis artificial reefs made using 'Biorock' technology have a part to play in enabling future marine ecotourism experiences.
DIY coral reefs exhibiting an extensive range of ecological services can be created in any shape, any size and anywhere (as long as they're in saltwater) providing the backdrop for ecotourism experiences such as nature streaming, snorkelling and diving.
Andrew Powell is Minister for Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation. Patricia O'Callaghan is Director-General, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI). Natassia Wheeler is the CEO of Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), and formerly CEO of Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT). Sofie Formica is the host of Afternoons with Sofie Formica on Brisbane radio station 4BC and is best known for hosting Queensland-based lifestyle show The Great South East on the Seven Network. Dave Copeman is Director of Queensland Conservation Council. Colin Scobie are members of the Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise. Peter is the Media Director and Colin is the club Vice President, the Chair of ESRAG Oceania and Director-elect on ESRAG International.
Biorock pioneer, Tom Goreau is in town for a day or two either side of the weekend (June 21).
Biorock technology and ecotourism are often linked because biorock reefs enhance the underwater environment, attract more tourists (snorkelling, diving and other marine-based activities), and create new economic opportunities (tourist operators and indigenous rangers) in coastal communities. They also provide a full suite of ecological services and can mitigate coast erosion depending on deployment (shape/ size/ location).
Tom he’s been responsible (or inspired) over 500 Biorock reefs in over 40 countries worldwide. Interestingly, there isn’t a Biorock reef in Australia. Yet!
Tom will be checking out potential Biorock sites in northern Moreton bay with the ESRAG crew while he's in town.
Tom is currently in Spain working with the local mariculture industry: “Climate crisis and pollution reported as possible reasons for dramatic fall in numbers of cockles, clams and mussels.” Spanish fishers in Galicia report ‘catastrophic’ collapse in shellfish stocks. The Guardian. 28 January 2025.
He’s then on to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France after which he’ll stop at Brisbane.
While in Brisbane he’ll catch up with Ocean Wilkins (now a student at Clontarf Beach State High School) and Prof Peter Bell, an expert on the impact of pollution on marine life, a collaborator of Tom’s for many years.
Tom will then travel to Arnhem Land to meet his brother, Peter.
The brothers will then follow the footsteps of their parents, Thomas F Goreau and Nora Arango de Urriol and their grandfather, Fritz Goro to the Crocodile Islands (Arnhem Land), Low Isle (off Port Douglas), Daintree (fringing reefs), and Mer (Torres Straits).
They are particularly keen to arrange a memorial of the work of Sir Charles Maurice Yonge, a pioneer (1920s) of mass coral spawning and coral bleaching.
