Charters Towers Regional Council has become the newest member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Council program, joining 19 other local government areas helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The Reef Guardian Council program is a partnership between the Reef Authority and local governments, in which councils undertake a range of environmental initiatives that contribute to the Reef’s resilience and the implementation of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.
Since its inception in 2007 the program has grown to include 20 local governments covering more than 75 per cent of the Reef Catchment.
Reef Authority CEO Josh Thomas said “the addition of the Charters Towers Regional Council will make a significant contribution to the program”.
“Managing the Great Barrier Reef is a collaborative effort, and actions taken outside of the Marine Park are central to the protection of the Reef and its communities,” Mr Thomas said.
“The Reef Authority is delighted that our existing 19 program councils all decided to continue the partnership after the 2024 local government elections, and we’re thrilled to welcome Charters Towers as our newest Reef Guardian Council.”
Charters Towers is the largest local government area connected to the Reef. It covers more than 63,000 square kilometres of Reef catchment, which is almost the same size as Tasmania.
Although inland, it contains a number of major catchments that feed directly into the Reef, including the Burdekin, Herbert, Haughton, Black and Ross River catchments.
As part of the Reef Guardian Council program, participating councils deliver projects that minimise impacts, improve values and support Reef protection activities.
Mr Thomas said Reef Guardian Councils across Queensland have delivered a range of fantastic projects that contribute to Reef health.
“These include reducing sediment run-off, restoring habitat, removing marine debris, controlling feral animals and clean energy upgrades,” Mr Thomas said.
“Climate change remains the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and Reef Guardian Councils, along with their communities, are taking actions big and small to reduce their climate impacts.”
Charters Towers Mayor Councillor Liz Schmidt said becoming a Reef Guardian Council reflects how deeply interconnected the community is with the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
“From the Burdekin River to the Reef itself, we understand that protecting these vital waterways is essential not only for the marine environment but for the prosperity and sustainability of our region as a whole,” Councillor Schmidt said.
“This initiative is about much more than the Marine Park – it's about the vast and interconnected landscapes that impact the Reef's future."
The Reef Guardian Council Executive Committee has recently reappointed Councillor Jeff Baines from Cassowary Coast Regional Council as Chair and welcomes Councillor Hezron Murgha from Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council as Deputy Chair for the 2024−28 term.
The Reef Guardian Council program now spans more than 317,000 square kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef Catchment.