Reef Guardian Council Program
Proud to be a part of the Reef Guardian Council program
The Reef Guardian Council program is a collaboration between local governments and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority). This partnership acknowledges that local and regional efforts are crucial for protecting and managing the Reef and the communities that depend on it.
Local governments play a key role in this initiative, as many threats to the Reef and its heritage values originate outside the Marine Park boundaries and beyond the Reef Authority’s jurisdiction.
The program includes 20 councils from Bundaberg to Cooktown, covering an area of 317,000 square kilometres and serving a population of over 1.1 million people. Each council developed a Reef Guardian Action Plan, detailing various initiatives to support Reef health. These plans align with the goals of the Queensland and Australian Governments to enhance the long-term outlook for the Reef, particularly through the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.
Reef Guardian Council grant projects
Projects identified in the Reef Guardian Council Action Plans are being implemented with funding from the Australian Government to support the Reef’s long-term resilience and protect its future.
In recognition of our efforts to enhance the Great Barrier Reef’s resilience and implement the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, the Australian Government allocated $17.48 million in 2022 for projects identified in the Reef Guardian Council Action Plans. This funding provided $920,000 to each of the 19 councils at the time.
Under the Australian Government’s Reef Guardian Councils Program, Mackay Regional Council activated Local Council’s Reef Action Plans funding to deliver the Jolimont Creek Fishway project.
Jolimont Creek Fishway
Mackay Regional Council managed the construction of the unique rock pool Jolimont Creek Fishway, directly supporting the Reef Guardian Councils' commitment to protecting, rehabilitating, and restoring habitats, as well as reducing impacts from water-based activities.
The 1.5-metre-high Jolimont Weir previously acted as a barrier for fish migrating between freshwater and marine ecosystems, disrupting their lifecycles. To remove this barrier, Catchment Solutions and Mackay Regional Council partnered to design and manage construction of the Jolimont Creek Fishway, with Seaforth Civil engaged for construction. The fishway mimics the natural cascades of a river in a ‘dog leg’ zig-zag configuration, creating over 40 small pools and riffles of varying depths and sizes. This design allows fish of all sizes and maturity levels to access the upper reaches of the Jolimont Creek system, with resting spots in the eddies when needed. At over 100 metres long, the fishway is now the longest in Australia.
Click here for more information on the Jolimont Creek Fishway project.
Protecting the Reef starts by protecting our patch
Mackay Regional Council undertakes a range of initiatives that help address the key threats to the Reef. In addition to the funding provided by the Reef Guardian Council, Mackay Regional Council is undertaking several projects that align with goals in the Reef Guardian Action Plan. Here are some examples of our actions:
Protecting, rehabilitating and restoring habitats
- To mitigate harmful effects on ecosystem habitats, Mackay Regional Council installed wildlife sensitive lighting at seven key locations along the coast. This avoids the disruptive effects of artificial lights on wildlife at night, particularly on the life cycle, nesting and hatching of marine turtles.
- Council implements a targeted biosecurity plan and pest management measures whilst sharing knowledge as a member of the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Pest Management Group.
Limiting the impacts of climate change
- Mackay Regional Council is actively addressing climate change challenges to build a resilient community for future generations.
- Solar panels on 31 council-owned buildings are daily harnessing renewable energy.
- A fleet transition plan sets the roadmap for the use of electric vehicles and equipment to reduce carbon emissions.
- Council is exploring ways to improve its procurement policy, including incentives for suppliers to use and offer sustainable goods, services, and management practices in contracts.
- Implementing the Energy and Carbon Management Plan includes measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
- Methane gases are extracted from the main waste landfill site and destroyed using flaring in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change
Reducing the impacts from land-based activities
- Implement the Flood and Stormwater Management Strategy to mitigate flood risk, manage stormwater flows and impacts on land.
- Established a voluntary mechanism for developments to better manage stormwater, reduce runoff and improve water quality outcomes.
- Progress the Shoreline Erosion Management Plan to understand coastal erosion processes and related land use planning along the coastline.
Reducing impacts from water-based activities
- Member of the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership Mackay-Whitsunday to collaborate on initiatives that protect and enhance river and reef health.
- Educate recreational fishers about the voluntary code of conduct, compliance measures, and good fishing practices to promote sustainable fishing.
- Construct and maintain priority fishways across the region to support fish migration and improve aquatic ecosystems.
Conserving historic and cultural heritage
Mackay Regional Council engages with the local traditional owners to respect the cultural heritage and practices in the region in both planning and project execution, as demonstrated by the cultural heritage assessment completed for the Jolimont Creek Fishway.
Want to learn more – take a look at our Reef Guardian Council Action Plan.
Related Information