Integrated catchment management in the Lake Eyre Basin

For over four years Kate worked in one of the most isolated parts of Australia with graziers, farmers, tourism operators, government and conservationists to try to reach agreement on how to better manage the vast Lake Eyre Basin.

It wasn't easy bringing such a disparate group of individuals together. 'Over the last decade communities and stakeholders of the Lake Eyre Basin moved from a situation of fear and antagonism to working together' writes Kate.

What began as a challenge, resulted in the creation of the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group and the development of a Basin-wide strategy culminating in the Heads of Agreement between the South Australian, Queensland and Commonwealth Governments. 

Kate says the community asked for the story to be written so other groups could learn from the experience -to overcome conflict, face diversity and respect local knowledge and to turn talk and planning into action.