Floodwater damage at the new Byrrill Creek bridge after the February 2022 flood.This just one of 60 damaged bridges in the Tweed after the flood. Photo supplied.
How do we deal with the challenges of our climate as people, as industries, as businesses, and artists – that is as a community
It began with the ongoing drought of 2019 that was followed by ‘unprecedented’ bushfires, a pandemic and now the recent ‘unprecedented’ floods but it comes back to the same question: In a changing world how do we build resilience and a future with these extreme weather conditions?
Photo courtesy of the PSA.
Destination Tweed is taking up the challenge with a series of networking events over the next few months where they are looking at how to respond to these events across a range of industries. Funded by Foundation for Regional and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, they are bringing together a variety of groups across agri-food, Indigenous, nature and art networks to look at how to strengthen and prepare for the future.
‘The Tweed is a nature-based destination, home to a thriving food bowl, farmers, producers, and chefs promote the region as a leading agri-tourism destination,’ said Tracy Moschogianis from the Tweed Artisan Collective.
‘The series of networking events intends to build a professional, social and community connection to understand the risks of climate change and the direct impact it has on rural regions. The aim is to prepare the destination to not only survive but thrive into the future.’
Uncle Frank. Photo Aslan Shand
The first event will be ‘Nature and Indigenous’ initiatives held on June 29 at Tropical Fruit World with Uncle Frank and speakers from Minjungbal Museum & Cultural Centre, Tropical Fruit World and Jumping Red Ant leading the panel. Then attendees will break into groups to look at ways to address the issues faced by the community.
This will be followed by an agri-food event on 12 July, an art and entertainment event with the final event that brings all the ideas together.
Ms Moschogianis told The Echo that these events are about developing pillars in food, art, and nature for the community to work collaboratively through these unprecedented weather events and develop a positive way forward into the future.
For more information or to book a place email Tracy at: [email protected].
