The Dinner Plain Future Directions and Adaptation Pathways Project explores 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 change, 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.
At this stage, the Pathways Project is exploratory and investigative.
It does not propose or endorse specific outcomes, but instead seeks to clearly identify issues, opportunities, and potential pathways for consideration.
What is the background?
Dinner Plain is a unique Alpine settlement with strong environmental, recreational, and community values. It plays an important role within both the municipality and Alpine region, while also facing a distinct set of challenges and constraints.
Like many Alpine areas, Dinner Plain is experiencing increasing pressures related to climate variability, environmental management, infrastructure resilience, land use, seasonal use patterns, and governance arrangements. These pressures highlight the need for a coordinated, long-term approach to planning that considers both current conditions and future change.
The Pathways Project builds upon previous studies, operational experience, and stakeholder knowledge to provide a consolidated and strategic lens on Dinner Plain’s future.
What is the scope?
The Pathways Project aims 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
- 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;
- 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 high-level outputs to inform future decision-making.
Further information about opportunities for engagement and project outcomes will be shared as the project progresses.