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Mackay Regional Council
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 2 of 7
Mackay Regional Council Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016
Reef Guardian Council program
‘Reef Guardians’ is a stewardship program that encourages and supports Councils, schools and industries to become actively involved in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
The Reef Guardian Council program recognises the good environmental work Councils are achieving throughout the 42 million hectare Reef catchment.
Whether Reef Guardian Councils and their communities are large or small, they are making continuous improvements to help the Reef.
Action Plans
This Action Plan records the diversity of Council actions and projects that contribute to Reef health. It aligns with Queensland and Australian Government objectives to improve the long-term outlook for the Reef.
The Action Plan is a powerful tool for the Council to share its Reef management actions with the local community - and the rest of the world.
Milestone Reports
The Action Plan is reviewed and updated annually, and an annual Milestone Report is produced to highlight the continuous improvements occurring across a range of Council activities.
Endorsement
The Council recognises the importance of the Reef Guardian partnership and values the contributions made by staff and the community ‘working together today for a healthier Reef tomorrow’
Endorsed: …………………………………….……………… ……. /….… /….… Council signatory .
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 3 of 7
Mackay Regional Council
2015 / 2016
Reef 2050 Objective
The Great Barrier Reef retains its integrity
and system function by maintaining and
restoring the connectivity, resilience and
condition of marine and coastal
ecosystems
What Councils can do Help to restore catchments:
For example:
Incorporate environmental mapping and priorities in planning schemes and development decisions
Help to restore landscape and waterway connections and functions
Use best practices in Council and industry developments
Manage weeds and pests and restore disturbed Council land
Establish beach management plans
Project Name Description Financial/Resource
Commitment Partnerships
Responsible department/position
Project Status
Priority project implementation
Implement the 2015/16 priority projects in the coastal, waterway and plains landscapes
Natural Environment Levy Funding
Stakeholders, community
Natural Environment Section In progress
Beach Plans Develop new beach plans and update existing plans for priority beaches
Natural Environment Levy Funding
Community, Reef Catchments
Natural Environment Section In progress
Land Acquisition Fund Implement a process for nominating and evaluating land for purchase in line with the fund guidelines
Land Acquisition Reserve funding
Community Natural Environment Section In progress
Ongoing Activities
Project name Project name Project name
Collect a Natural Environment Levy to fund natural environmental projects
Maintain the Natural Environment Plan website to direct priorities and promote completed projects
Implement the Beach Plans as part of the Coasts and Communities Program including Coastcare activities
Offer residents opportunities to be part of the Land for Wildlife Program and provide land management advice
Participate in the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Pest Management Group to share resources and knowledge
Produce local provenance native plants for local projects at the Mackay Natural Environment Centre nursery
Continue to produce management plans to guide the management of environmentally significant land
Continue to implement the Mackay Regional Pest Management Plan
Continue to offer rate rebates for properties that are nature refuges or enter into long term conservation agreements
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 4 of 7
Mackay Regional Council
2015 / 2016
Reef 2050 Objective
The quality of water from all sources
including industrial, urban waste and
stormwater sources has no detrimental
impact on the health and resilience of the
Great Barrier Reef
What Councils can do Continuously improve the quality of water entering the reef from wastewater and stormwater sources through urban water cycle initiatives:
Promote water sensitive urban design in new developments
Adopt best practice stormwater management
Monitor and if necessary upgrade sewerage treatment plants
Provide collection facilities for chemicals, waste oil and other pollutants
Protect and rehabilitate waterways
Project Name Description Financial/Resource
Commitment Partnerships
Responsible department/position
Project Status
Stormwater Quality Management
Update the Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan for Mackay
Council budget Community, stakeholders
Strategic Planning In Progress
Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management (VMSQM)
Implement the Voluntary Mechanism for Stormwater Quality Management
Developer contributions
Developers, Community, Natural Environment
Strategic Planning
In Progress
Water use management Provide clients with access to real time water use information to increase awareness of water use and how they can reduce it
Council budget Community Business Services In Progress
Riparian Revegetation – Gooseponds Creek
Revegetate an 800m stretch of Gooseponds Creek in Glenella to restore riparian ecosystem function
VMSQM, Natural Environment Levy, Green Army teams
Community, Mackay Soccer, Toyota, CVA,
Natural Environment In Progress
Little McCready’s Creek Urban System Repair
Restore a 720m section of Little McCready’s creek. Pilot project for naturalised channel design
VMSQM, Natural Environment Levy, Reef Catchments
Reef Catchments, Community
Strategic Planning In Progress
Ongoing Activities
Project name Project name Project name
Continue to implement the erosion and sediment control program
Continue to undertake the waterway health monitoring program including ambient and event sampling
Continue to implement the trade waste inspection program
Continue to maintain Water Sensitive Urban Design infrastructure throughout the region
Continue to prioritise and undertake waterway projects that improve water quality and biodiversity outcomes
Maintain existing and construct new fish passageways
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 5 of 7
Mackay Regional Council
2015 / 2016
Reef 2050 Objective
Education and on-ground actions target the
source of marine debris and reduce the
volume of debris entering the Great Barrier
Reef
What Councils can do Minimise waste entering the Reef from land-based sources:
Promote water sensitive urban design in new developments
Adopt best practice stormwater management
Monitor and if necessary upgrade sewerage treatment plants
Provide collection facilities for chemicals, waste oil and other pollutants
Protect and rehabilitate waterways
Project Name Description Financial/Resource
Commitment Partnerships
Responsible department/position
Project Status
Recycling and reuse Develop a recycling facility for glass and construction and demolition waste
Council Budget Corporate sector Waste Services In Progress
Waste facility management
Provide a report on potential actions to extend the useful life of waste facilities
Council Budget Waste Services In Progress
MRF operation Review operational processes at the MRF to improve handling of contaminated recyclables to improve yield
Council Budget Waste Services In Progress
Great Northern Clean Up Coordinate, register and advertise clean-up sites across the region and engage the support of volunteer community groups to supervise sites and volunteers.
Council Budget Community Waste Services Ongoing
Waste Education Deliver waste education programs to increase recycling and reduce waste going to landfill
Council Budget Community Waste Services, Corporate Communications
In Progress
Ongoing Activities
Project name Project name Project name
Continue to offer a voucher system for limited free dumping for residents
Continue to optimise the quality of effluent released to the environment
Continue to maintain GPT’s throughout the region
Continue to offer a kerbside recycling program Continue to implement the waste management strategic plan 2014-2018
Continue to work with industry to seek beneficial reuse of resources recovered from waste locally
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 6 of 7
Mackay Regional Council
2015 / 2016
Reef 2050 Objective
Local, regional and Reef-wide community
benefits are understood and the community is
actively involved in Reef management
What Councils can do Celebrate community connections to the Reef and encourage stewardship:
Introduce education campaigns to reduce impacts on the Reef
Build community capacity to tackle threats to the Reef
Form partnerships to achieve ongoing improvements to Reef health
Project Name Description Financial/Resource
Commitment Partnerships
Responsible department/position
Project Status
Environmental awareness and participation
Encourage community awareness and engagement in natural environment activities through educational and engagement programs
Natural Environment Levy Funding
Community, stakeholders, Community engagement and communications teams
Natural Environment Section In Progress
Green Arts Grants The Green Arts Grants are an innovative new initiative to support projects that focus on environmentally-based arts activities that highlight issues relating to local biodiversity
Natural Environment Levy Funding, Regional Arts Development funding
Local artists Natural Environment Section RADF Program
In Progress
Waste Education Deliver waste education programs to increase recycling, and reduce waste going to landfill
Council budget Community, Corporate Sector
Waste Services In Progress
Illegal dumping Target illegal dumping through an education campaign and increased enforcement
Council budget Health and Regulatory Services, Corporate Communications
In Progress
Ongoing Activities
Project name Project name Project name
Continue to provide opportunities for coastal communities to be involved in coastal management activities through the Coastcare program
Continue to engage with commercial entities to improve recycling practices
Continue to raise community awareness regarding littering and illegal dumping
Continue to provide support for environmental groups within the region
Continue to provide educational material that promotes our natural environment
Continue to participate in awareness raising days such as National Tree Day and the Great Northern Cleanup
Reef Guardian Council Action Plan 2015 / 2016 Page 7 of 7
Mackay Regional Council
2015 / 2016
Reef 2050 Objective
Communities adapt and respond to a changing
climate by taking action to avoid impacts on the
Great Barrier Reef and coastal ecosystems
What Councils can do Help communities to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate:
Assess Council and community risk and vulnerability due to a changing climate
Prepare for and respond to climate change through planning and policies
Introduce sustainability principles to Council procurement
Encourage efficient use of energy by Council and community
Project Name Description Financial/Resource
Commitment Partnerships
Responsible department/position
Project Status
Climate Change Adaptation Policy
Develop and implement a Climate Change Adaptation Policy
Council Budget Community, stakeholders
Safety, Governance and Resilience
In Progress
Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan
Review and implement the Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan
Council Budget, Natural Environment Levy
Parks, Environment and Sustainability
In Progress
Sustainable Procurement Include incentives for suppliers to use and offer sustainable goods and services and management practices in contracts
Council Budget Corporate Sector Procurement and Plant In Progress
Mackay Natural Environment Centre Upgrade
Continue to expand and develop the Mackay Natural Environment Centre sustainability initiatives
Natural Environment Levy
Landcare Groups, Community
Natural Environment In Progress
Active Transport Deliver an active transport marketing program to promote the use of bikeways and walkways
Council Budget Community Corporate Communications, Development Services
In Progress
Ongoing Activities
Project name Project name Project name
Continue to advocate to the state government to improve the availability of public transport
Continue to expand and connect bikeways and walking paths
Continue to promote the Mackay Natural Environment Centre as benchmark sustainability practices
Flare methane gas collected in the capped cell at Hogan’s pocket landfill to reduce the impact that landfill generated gas has on climate change
Continue to design buildings and facilities to reduce environmental impacts, and decrease greenhouse gas emission and water use
Continue to apply the environmental protection principles outlined in the procurement policy when purchasing goods
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