The Dinner Plain Future Directions and Adaptation Pathways Project will set out a sustainable vision to guide decision making for the long-term future for Dinner Plain.
What is the Dinner Plain Future Directions and Adaptation Pathways Project?
The Pathways Project is focused on understanding how Dinner Plain can continue to function, adapt, and thrive over time in the context of environmental changes and risks, evolving community expectations, and operational and governance considerations.
It is intended to provide a clear, evidence-based foundation to inform future decision-making, policy development, and investment priorities.
It is planned that the Pathways Project will establish our preferred pathway forward to ensure that Dinner Plain is a safe and sustainable settlement.
What is the background?
Dinner Plain is a unique Alpine settlement with important environmental values, offering a range of recreational activities over all seasons of the year. It is a unique settlement in both the municipality and Alpine region, and is home to a small but passionate permanent population while also facing a distinct set of challenges and constraints.
Like many Alpine areas, Dinner Plain is experiencing increasing pressures because of climate change which will become more serious over time, particularly relating to bushfire and vegetation management.
It has a very seasonal and marginal economy, and governance challenges because of its remoteness. These pressures highlight the need for a coordinated, long-term approach to planning that considers both current conditions and future change.
The Pathways Project will build upon previous studies, operational experience, and stakeholder knowledge to provide a consolidated and strategic lens for the future of Dinner Plain.
What is the scope?
The objectives of the Pathways Project are to:
- Develop a shared understanding of the key challenges, risks, and opportunities facing Dinner Plain over the short, medium, and long term;
- Identify the factors influencing Dinner Plain’s capacity to adapt to environmental, social, and operational change;
- Explore a range of potential future directions and adaptation pathways for consideration; and
- Identify a preferred future for Dinner Plain, looking at the long term (10 – 30 years).
Based on this, the primary objective is to provide a clear evidence base to support future planning, policy, and investment decisions.
The scope of the Pathways Project includes:
- Environmental and ecological considerations;
- Climate change and adaptation challenges, particularly relating to bushfire risk;
- Settlement patterns and land use considerations;
- Infrastructure, services, and asset resilience;
- Governance, management, and operational arrangements; and
- Community and stakeholder perspectives.
The project is being delivered using a structured, evidence-based approach that includes:
- Review of existing studies, data, and strategic documents;
- Technical input and expert advice;
- Workshops with internal Council teams and key stakeholders;
- Analysis of risks, constraints, and opportunities; and
- Development of high-level future directions and adaptation pathway options.
Community engagement
We are undertaking targeted consultation throughout the Pathways Project to inform its development, ensuring a range of perspectives are considered during this information gathering phase.
Engagement to date has focused on:
- Internal Council officers;
- Government agencies and land managers;
- Technical specialists and advisors; and
- Key stakeholder groups with operational or management roles at Dinner Plain.
Broader community engagement will be considered at later stages of the project, once key issues and potential pathways have been clearly defined.
What are the next steps?
Over the coming months, the Pathways Project will continue to:
- Refine the identification of key issues and opportunities;
- Test potential future directions and adaptation pathways;
- Integrate feedback from stakeholders and technical advisors; and
- Prepare a framework to inform future decision-making to ensure that Dinner Plain is managed in a safe and sustainable manner.
Further information about opportunities for engagement and project outcomes will be shared as the project progresses.