Council has created an online dashboard that allows residents to track the state of the Cairns environment.
The 2021 State of Environment report was launched in a web-based format today, making it easier for the public to access and visualise environmental and sustainability data.
The report draws data from various sources to present a picture of the Cairns environment, including graphs tracking water and energy consumption, annual average rainfall and temperature, development, waste and recycling.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said that despite not being a legislative requirement, this was the 15th State of Environment report released by Council.
"It provides an overview of Council's environmental and urban sustainability initiatives, and shows the condition of our local natural environment, pressures it faces, and our responses to those pressures."
The State of Environment report has historically been published in a PDF format and uploaded onto Council's website.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the transition to a web-based dashboard model made it more accessible to the public
"The collation of the data and presentation of the report in a document format has produced a 40-plus page record that was generally uninviting to the general public,' Cr Manning said.
"This year we've switched to an interactive web-based report, which is much more engaging for the community."
"It will also be more efficient for Council to update the community as data becomes available."
"At the end of each year, past versions being archived on the website and the web-based format to be recorded prior to future year releases of the interactive version."
This year's State of Environment report features data gathered from both 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Cr Manning said the report provided an important guide in how Council manages its environmental impact when delivering services for the community.
"Council needs to balance the needs of a growing population with protecting the environment, and we will continue to do that," Cr Manning said.
"For example, Council endorsed the Climate Change Strategy 2030 earlier this year, which outlines our commitment to climate action.
"Work has also started on the Towards 2050 Growth Strategy, which will deliver holistic and contemporary land use planning that supports growth, liveability and sustainably."
See the State of Environment report here.
