Community Panels

Reef’s massive size may be an asset in helping it withstand climate change

One of the core activities of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) is the formation of three geographically based community panels to explore and discuss specific reef interventions (i.e., new technologies to help the reef) being investigated by the RRAP.

The aim of establishing community panels across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) regions is to explore a new way of involving community members in a longer-term and deeper discussion with scientists and reef managers about proposed novel reef interventions. The panels seek to draw on diverse community perspectives and aspirations for the Reef and its management.

Each panel is expected to be comprised of 12-20 community members who will commit to taking part in a series of up to 5 one-day engagements over an 18-month period.

Townsville Community Panel for Novel Reef Interventions

The first panel has been formed for community members living in the Townsville, Hinchinbrook or Burdekin Local Government Areas. This panel is known as the Townsville Community Panel and its focus includes novel reef interventions such as marine cloud brightening, coral restoration and other potential approaches being explored.

To ensure we attracted diverse views and interests, we asked interested community members to fill out a short questionnaire that collected personal information including name, age in years, suburb of residence, postcode and contact details, along with brief statements about their interest in the Reef and motivation for being involved.

Expressions of interest for this panel are now closed. 

Please follow this link to find out more.