Environment and sustainability

Our natural environment

The Mackay region is home to a wide range of natural environments – from tropical rainforests at Eungella, wide sandy beaches, beach scrub, mangrove-lined creeks and waterways and open eucalypt forests.

We share these with a wide variety of animals, including 62 mammal species, 350 bird, 95 reptile, 31 frog and 44 fish species. About 10 percent are listed as rare or threatened and some species are found nowhere else on the planet!

Native plants and wildlife

 

Our coast, waterways and reef

 

Climate risk assessment

Sustainable community

Council is dedicated to creating a healthy, connected and sustainable community. Our goal is to reduce environmental impact by finding the right balance between building new infrastructure and protecting our natural resources.

We put sustainability into action through strong leadership, responsible planning and community partnerships. These efforts help protect our environment, support biodiversity and address the challenges of climate change.

The Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2017-2025 helps guide our work in this important area.

Sustainable Living Guide

Developed in conjunction with The Natural Strategies Group, The Sustainable Living Guide is designed to help residents in the Mackay region take action to live more sustainably at home and in the community. The Guide is packed with ideas, tips and inspiration about how small, easy changes can have positive impacts on the environment and your health and wellbeing - and save you money too! Challenge yourself to take up a new sustainable action today! Find out just how easy it is to work towards creating a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our children's children.

Sustainable Living Guide

Other useful links:

• Mackay region water restrictions
• Reducing waste to landfill
• Illegal dumping
• Recycling guides
• Energy savings for households and businesses

Renewable Energy: Community Benefit System

Find out more

Natural Environment Levy 

The Natural Environment Levy was introduced by council in 2003 to fund environmental projects across the Mackay area. This scheme was extended to the entire municipality in 2008 following council amalgamations. Ratepayers contribute to the levy yearly via their rates.

The aim of the levy is to fund projects that address the following broad objectives:

• Protect, manage and enhance ecologically significant areas on public and private land and encourage best practice in native vegetation and waterway management
• Monitor health of native vegetation, water quality and ecosystems
• Provide a range of types and styles of projects including pilot projects
• Ensure an integrated catchment management focus to ensure multiple benefits (i.e. for biodiversity, land degradation, water quality, community wellbeing, economic and commercial gains)

Land acquisition

Each year, a proportion of funds (20 per cent) is set aside for the purpose of strategic land acquisition. Council has a land acquisition policy(PDF, 464KB) which is use to guide the acquisition of land.

Significant Tree Register 

The Mackay Significant Tree Register aims to identify, document and recognise the importance of significant trees on council managed land in Mackay, to guide their management and ensure their protection for future generations.  

Trees provide environmental benefits, including shade and filtering of air pollutants, contribute to a sense of place and an area's unique character, provide habitat for wildlife and are an important part of the natural landscape.  

Trees can be significant for a variety of reasons including; their age, size, rarity, historical associations or contribution to the landscape.

The register contains 520 trees including the large Rain tree at the Mackay Showgrounds, the avenue of Mangos trees along Mango Ave, Eimeo and several large Kauri Pines in Anzac Park, Seaforth.

Significant Tree Register