Australian and Queensland Governments: Reef 2050 Protecting the Reef Everyone has a part to play to keep the Great Barrier Reef healthy and resilient. The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $3 billion over 10 years (from 2014-15 to 2023-25) to implement the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan). Following the first five-yearly review of the plan, an updated version has been released to ensure it continues to address the right priorities and actions to support the health and resilience of the Reef including a greater focus on taking action on climate change. Fitzroy Partnership for River Health is an important stakeholder in the ongoing work to measure the health of waterways that lead to the Great Barrier Reef, and  promote ongoing management change and water stewardship activities with partners. The work of Fitzroy Partnership for River Health particularly aligns with integrated water quality monitoring and report card programs in the Fitzroy Basin priority catchment. To find out more about the updated Reef 2050 Plan and ways you can get involved to help protect the Reef, visit https://www.awe.gov.au/parks-heritage/great-barrier-reef/long-term-sustainability-plan

Queensland Government: Plastic reduction in action Plastic pollution is a growing problem and when it ends up in the wrong place, it can negatively impact the health of our communities, our environment and wildlife. More and more the community is seeing the impacts of plastic pollution, locally and across the world, and everyone has a role to play in tackling plastic waste. The Queensland Government is tackling plastic waste through the Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan that sets the course for Queensland to be part of the solution and a leader in driving necessary changes. The plan identifies and prioritises actions, at every step in the supply chain, to help reduce plastic waste and reduce the amount of plastic in and entering the environment. Some key achievements to date for Queensland include: the ban on the supply of single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags (1 July 2018), which has helped reduce the amount of plastic bag litter in the environment by 70%. more than five billion containers have been recycled across the state since the Containers for Change scheme began three years ago, with Queenslanders claiming over $500 million in refunds. the ban on the supply of single-use plastic [...]

Not so baffling: Rockhampton Regional Council winning at sustainability Rockhampton Regional Council aren’t taking any rubbish when it comes to polluting local waterways, and in fact have been recognised as a national leader in sustainability. In 2021, Rockhampton Regional Council were crowned winners of two Australian Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards winning Environmental Sustainability – Natural Environment and Environmental Sustainability – Water categories. Water and Environmental Sustainability Councillor Donna Kirkland said it was wonderful to have Council’s commitment to the environment recognised. “Being named overall winners in the state, and then being nominated as national finalists, is a testament to many of the great initiatives happening across Rockhampton Regional Council,” Councillor Kirkland said. “The overall nomination captured the diversity of the work that we are doing to improve on and contribute to the environmental sustainability of our Region. “Whether it is Fitzroy River Water reducing energy usage and improving recycled water solutions, or the great work happening in resource recovery and waste management, to sustainability initiatives such as our Natural Resource Management and Living Sustainably programs just to name a few. “Ultimately it’s the environment and our whole community that win from having these initiatives in place.” [...]