Fraser Coast Regional Council is now officially part of the Reef Guardian Council Program - a partnership that helps protect the Great Barrier Reef and the rivers, creeks and coastlines that flow into it.
Led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the program partners with councils to support local action on climate change, water quality, waste reduction, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
Environment and Sustainability spokesperson Cr Zane O'Keefe said joining the program reinforced Council's commitment to being a resilient and environmentally responsible region.
- "We're proud to now be a Reef Guardian Council, helping to protect one of the world's most iconic natural wonders, with the Great Sandy Strait right here on our doorstep acting as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef," Cr O'Keefe said.
"This program recognises the work we're already doing - from restoring coastal habitats to reducing pollution and improving recycling.
"It also opens the door to more partnerships, more learning opportunities, and more chances to secure environmental funding that benefits our whole community."
Cr O'Keefe said the Council's Reef Action Plan outlines a wide range of local initiatives that align with the program's goals.
"These include upgrades to the Pulgul Creek wastewater treatment plant, shellfish reef restoration at Booral, riverbank stabilisation, community tree planting days, and the construction of a new Materials Recovery Facility to boost recycling," he said.
"The program is also about connection and collaboration - working with schools, Traditional Owners, conservation groups and tourism operators to protect what makes our region so special.
"Building better communities together is how we make the biggest difference for our environment, our economy, and future generations."
Reef Authority Chief Executive Officer Josh Thomas welcomed the partnership with the Fraser Coast Regional Council.
- "The Reef Guardian Council program is an initiative of the Reef Authority which recognises local governments as key partners in the long-term protection of the Reef,'' Reef Authority CEO Josh Thomas said.
"By welcoming Fraser Coast Regional Council to the program, there are now 21 councils involved in the program, representing more than 1.2 million people and covering more than 76 per cent of the Reef catchment, from north of K-gari to the tip of Cape York.
"The Fraser Coast region is a biodiversity hotspot, and the Great Sandy Biosphere is important for many species - including whales for which the region is famous - that depend on healthy marine and coastal systems.
"While Hervey Bay is south of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is bounded by the Coral Sea and spans ecosystems that are closely interconnected with the Great Barrier Reef.
"It's fantastic to see the initiatives Fraser Coast Regional Council have outlined in their Action Plan to deliver tangible action to help protect the Reef and address the key threats impacting its resilience."
Fraser Coast is the 21st local government to join the program, which now spans more than three-quarters of the entire Reef catchment.
The region plays a vital role in protecting biodiversity, with marine species like whales, dugongs and turtles migrating through the Great Sandy Biosphere and into the broader Reef system.
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