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.” [...]

FBA & CQUniversity: Sights set on seagrass strategies Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) is working with CQUniversity to reduce threats to seagrass communities. The Fitzroy region has the largest seaward draining basin in Queensland, with 1,000 km of coastline that is home to extensive seagrass meadows and part of the Great Barrier Reef Heritage area. Seagrass meadows underpin the survival of fish and shellfish the community eats and transform the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into oxygen. They also filter seawater, capture sediment, stop erosion and provide food for threatened dugong and marine turtle species. Human activity like coastal urban development, storm-water runoff and nutrient pollution can contribute to seagrass degradation and loss. Director of CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), Associate Professor Emma Jackson is a leading authority on seagrass. She is researching ways coastal development activity can support rather than compromise seagrass that is essential to fish habitats. By participating with CMERC, FBA has been educating industry and the community about ways to decrease threats to local seagrass. Getting people to understand seagrass value is critical to motivating people to reduce marine pollution. Sustainable recreational use of marine areas throughout the Fitzroy region relies on healthy seagrass, so FBA engages the fishing community in volunteer [...]