MASTER COPY Reef Guardian Council Action Plan Template 2015 · 2015-10-20 · MASTER COPY Reef Guardian Council Action Plan Template 2015 Author: Tim Parker Created Date: 10/14/2015

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 .



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


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



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 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


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



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 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


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



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 Status

Environmental awareness and participation

Encourage community awareness and engagement in natural environment activities through educational and engagement programs


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


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



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 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


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

Documents

MASTER COPY Reef Guardian Council Action Plan Template 2015 · 2015-10-20 · MASTER COPY Reef Guardian Council Action Plan Template 2015 Author: Tim Parker Created Date: 10/14/2015