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From the Conference Convenor

Galangoor djali and welcome to K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island), the ‘paradise’ island, listed on the World Heritage Register in 1992 and offering surprises at every turn… Drive on the wide-open beaches with the wind in your hair, marvel at shifting sand blows, swim in the iridescent waters, champagne pools and witness the playful marine life just metres from shore. The moment you hop off the barge, you are in paradise. What more could you ask for?

From growing up in the Fraser Coast region to moving out west to SEQ and then up to Central Queensland, I have finally returned ‘Home’ to the Fraser Coast. During the last 10 years relocating around Queensland, I have seen things change, but not as much as the Fraser Coast region. When I left the region in 2012 there were large pockets of farming land that for decades had been used for cane and pineapple farms.

Move forward to 2022, I was seeing farm land make way for residential development, Bunnings Warehouse and Home Makers Centres. But the one thing that hasn’t changed, is the lifestyle. Where in Queensland can you find a great climate, stunning natural settings, an affordable lifestyle and area that encourages investment and growth?

Here on the Fraser Coast, we have a relaxed safe lifestyle that every Aussie dreams of. Where community and families come first, work is only a few minutes away and you can forget about the rush hour traffic stealing hours away from your family. So, I am in raptures to be convening this year’s PIA Queensland State Conference in my backyard, and have the opportunity to showcase K’gari, the world’s largest sand island and an area of remarkable natural beauty, along with what the surrounding Fraser Coast Region has to offer.

Following the theme of the 2024 PIA 黑料大事 Congress of ‘Reinvention: 黑料大事 in a Time of Change’, the K’gari Conference Committee for 2024 has chosen this year’s conference theme as the “Journey of Plan to Place: Reflection, Realignment, Revolution”.

The sub-themes are:

• ‘Reflection’ – our past including First Nations, Cultural Heritage and more.
• ‘Re-alignment’ – our present including implementation of Regional Plans, housing diversity and more.
• ‘Revolution’ – our future including Climate conscious planning, PlanTech and more.

We encourage and look forward to receiving your abstracts in response to the conference theme this year as you prepare to take us all on the journey of plan to place in all your insightful pieces, we are sure to receive.

On behalf of the K’gari Conference Committee and the Fraser Coast Regional Council, we look forward to welcoming you to not only K’gari, but the Fraser Coast Region for what will be a conference to remember.

Rhianne McMullen-Legdin PIA (Assoc.)
Conference Convenor