ONE of the most comprehensive environmental and heritage assessments of the central Monaro plains will be unveiled this week with locals urged to attend a community presentation to learn more about the plains and their significance to the region.

On Wednesday, 2 July at the Alpine Hotel Cooma, Dr Dennis Williamson of Geoscene International, will present his report into the cultural, heritage and landscape values of the central Monaro plains, spanning 336,000 hectares.

Community group, REAL Monaro (Renewable Energy and Landscape for Monaro) will host the meeting where Dr Williamson will discuss the findings from his ‘Central Monaro Plains Deep Landscape Values Assessment’.

“The principal aim of this report is to provide a research investigation, review, and assessment of the broad natural, cultural, tourism and scenic (visual) landscape values of the central Monaro plains,” Dr Williamson said.

Monaro landholder and member of Real Monaro, Jim Litchfield, said the report highlights the significance of the plains.

“Any assessment of future land use and planning has to look at the Monaro wholistically and from every aspect and Dr Williamson has done an extraordinary job putting together the diverse and unique attributes of the Central Monaro in this document,” Mr Litchfield said.

Prepared over a 14-month period of intense research and assessment, the report showcases the Monaro and its unique landscape diversity, highlighting the region as an ecological hotspot of threatened ecological communities and species, as well as an area rich in Indigenous cultural heritage and non-Indigenous heritage values.

REAL Monaro and landholders across the Monaro believe the report will highlight the plains values and strenghten calls to oppose the development of the proposed Coonerang Wind Farm at The Brothers, located on the central Monaro plains.

The presentation starts at 5.30pm and runs until 7.30pm at the Alpine Hotel.

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