Tablelands Regional Council signs up as reef guardian

Tablelands Regional Council signs up as reef guardian

Following its signing up as a Reef Guardian Council for the next four years, Tablelands Regional Council - joins other councils in driving local action and support for a healthy Great Barrier Reef.

The Reef Guardian Council program — a collaborative stewardship arrangement between local government in the Great Barrier Reef catchment and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — recognises that local and regional approaches are central to protecting and managing the Reef and the communities it supports.

Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Rod Marti said the council took the Reef Guardian role very seriously noting “while we are not a coastal council, as a region we are very aware that our actions on land and in our waterways can affect the Great Barrier Reef.

“The waters of seven major Wet Tropics catchments — Burdekin, Herbert, Johnstone, Tully, Mulgrave, Russell and Barron — begin their journey to the Reef from the council region.

“As a result our actions can have a direct downstream effect on the Reef.

“We want to lead by example and inspire others across Australia and the world to take action to help the Reef.”

The Authority’s Assistant Director for Strategic Engagement Doon McColl said the Tablelands region had an important role to play as a Reef champion and leader of change.

McColl adds “with the rise of global social movements and digital media, we have seen that local action can really move the world.

“Tablelands Regional Council is a great advocate of the Reef Guardian program and we are looking forward to working with them over the next four years.

“We hope the Reef Guardian Council program will help to spread the message that people taking action now — however small — will help the Reef. This is a mission for everyone, everywhere.”