CASSOWARY COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL
Action Plan Milestone Report
Final Period 2012 – 2013
The Reef Guardian Council program was developed to achieve better environmental outcomes for the Great Barrier
Reef through local government actions in natural resource management and improvements in local government and
community capacity.
To be considered Reef Guardians, councils must develop an annual action plan which is reviewed annually in order
to:
-
Ensure that council is on track to complete the projects in their action plan;
Identify any significant milestones that have occurred; and
Identify any development and capacity building opportunities.
The council’s action plan is monitored by council staff in conjunction with staff from the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s Reef
Guardian Action Plan Key Projects:



Pollution control works for Tully and Innisfail
depots – The Innisfail and Tully depots have been
upgraded to include poison wash down bays and
holding tanks for rinsing and filling of poison tanks
used to spray herbicides. The fuel storage facilities
at the Tully depot have been upgraded and now
include a bunded dispensing area.
Cardwell foreshore re-development – Council has
been working with the Department of Transport
and Main Roads to reconstruct the foreshore along
the Cardwell Esplanade that was damaged as a
result of Cyclone Yasi. This project will improve the
resilience of the foreshore to the effects of natural
hazard events in the future.
Coastal rehabilitation – Following the devastating
effects of Cyclone Yasi on the coast within the
Cassowary Coast Region, Council has been
improving coastal biodiversity outcomes and
resilience by:
 Reinstating defined access paths and fence
lines along dunes;
 Fencing along foreshore areas and dunes;
 Restoring native riparian vegetation; and
 General coastal rehabilitation works at Mission
Beach, Cowley Beach, Bingil Bay, Brooks Beach,
Kurrimine Beach and Flying Fish Point.


Environmental water quality monitoring program
- Council actively carries out ground and surface
water monitoring for its landfill sites. Council also
carries out water quality monitoring of the sewage
effluent from its sewage treatment plants.
Development of a region-wide waste strategy Council's Solid Waste Management Strategy has
been finalised. The Solid Waste Management
Strategy provides an assessment of existing waste
management facilities and addresses garbage
collection, resource recovery, waste minimisation
and waste disposal throughout the entire
Cassowary Coast Region. The Strategy provides a
decision model for an integrated waste
management system for the Region for the next 10
years.
0 - 25%
50 - 75%
25 - 50%
75 - 100%
The graph above shows a quantitative
assessment by the Cassowary Coast Regional
Council on the approximate percentage
complete of each project in their action plan.
Breakdown of percentage complete of projects in Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s
action plan, compared to the outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
75 - 100%
50 - 75%
25 - 50%
0 - 25%
Action Plan Objectives: Council takes pride in its activities
as a Reef Guardian Council and seeks to identify
opportunities to embed practices which have good
outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef within its everyday
operations.
In the 2012/2013 period, Council has been focused on
repairing damage caused to its coastline as a result of
Cyclone Yasi. These works have focused on improving
coastal biodiversity outcomes while improving the
resilience of the coastline for natural hazards in the future.
Another focus of Council's activities in the 2012/2013
period has been ensuring its programmed infrastructure
and other construction works are carried out in accordance
with improved environmental practices.
In the early half of 2013 Council adopted a Sustainability
Policy, which recognises Council's commitment to the
continual improvement of sustainability within Council and
the Region. In accordance with this Policy, Council will
actively build and strengthen a culture of sustainability so
that the key principles and elements of sustainability
become part of its everyday functions and activities.
ongoing education, improved signage, entering into
partnerships with community groups and undertaking
revegetation projects.
Action Plan Outputs: Council's ongoing involvement in the
Reef Guardian Council Program continually improves
awareness within Council and the community of the
importance of acting in a way that provides good
environmental outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef. By
seeking to ensure that improved environmental practices
become part of "business as usual", Council continues to
deliver good outcomes for the Reef within the limited
scope of its resources.
Communications Report: Council has been active in
communicating with the community about it Reef Guardian
projects through media releases and information on its
website. In addition, a number of the Reef Guardian
projects involved community education and capacity
building activities.
Council continues to work with the community and
community groups to undertake projects that benefit the
Region's natural and coastal environment. This involves
For Further information contact:
Cassowary Coast Regional Council – Mark Gordon Supervisor Environmental Management 07 4030 2258
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority – Reef Guardian Council Program Manager 07 4750 0601