Glen Innes Severn Council Mayor Margot Davis represented Council at the 2026 Australian Earth Sciences Convention in early February, positioning the region as a nationally recognised leader in geotourism, place-based development and geological storytelling.
Addressing scientists, geologists and policy leaders from across Australia, Cr Davis presented “From Geology to Place – Building a GeoRegion through evidence, experience and community,” outlining how Glen Innes Highlands is leveraging its unique geological assets to drive economic resilience, environmental stewardship and community pride.
Glen Innes Highlands is one of just three pilot GeoRegions in Australia, alongside Ku-ring-gai and Murchison, recognised under the National Geotourism Strategy. The region sits within the geologically complex New England Orogen, where granites, volcanic sequences and mineral systems have shaped both the physical landscape and the community’s economic history.
Cr Davis highlighted that Glen Innes Highlands covers more than 5,500 square kilometres of tablelands, escarpments, national parks and historic mining landscapes, a scale and diversity that provides a strong foundation for long-term geotourism development.
Central to the presentation was the Glen Innes Highlands Skywalk, located above the Australian Standing Stones in Centennial Parklands. The Skywalk demonstrates how infrastructure, digital storytelling and community collaboration can translate complex geoscience into accessible public experiences. Through integrated sound trails, visitors can hear geologists, historians and Traditional Owners interpret the landscape in real time.
Mayor Davis emphasised that a GeoRegion is not simply a tourism brand. It is a strategic, geoscience-led framework that:
- Defines a coherent geographic area shaped by shared geological history and landscape evolution
- Connects scientific knowledge with culture, education and community capability
- Provides a scalable pathway toward UNESCO Global Geopark recognition
More than 40 geological and cultural sites have already been mapped across Glen Innes Highlands and the broader New England North West, forming the foundation of a connected regional framework capable of meeting international Geopark standards.
Cr Davis outlined how this work aligns with Council’s Destination Management Plan and broader economic strategy, reinforcing Glen Innes Highlands’ ambition to achieve UNESCO Global Geopark recognition in partnership with neighbouring councils.
“This is about grounded ambition. It’s about protecting what makes our place unique, reinvigorating former mining and legacy sites, strengthening environmental stewardship, and building a resilient regional economy grounded in science, story and community,” she said.
The presentation positioned geotourism not as a niche product, but as a holistic regional development framework capable of delivering education, environmental protection, visitor growth and long-term economic diversification.
Cr Davis said participation in the Convention was part of Council’s broader advocacy strategy, ensuring Glen Innes Highlands is visible in national policy conversations, research partnerships and funding opportunities connected to earth sciences, tourism and regional development.
“Our geology tells a story hundreds of millions of years in the making. “When people understand the landscape they’re standing in, they value it differently. That understanding drives stewardship, pride and opportunity.”
Council will continue working with regional partners across the New England North West to strengthen the case for UNESCO Global Geopark recognition and expand geotourism experiences across the Highlands.
For more information on the Glen Innes Highlands GeoRegion and Skywalk experience, visit the Glen Innes Highlands website, or download the free Soundtrails app.
Media Release: Glen Innes Severn Council
