Climate change Mackay’s third-highest strategic risk

Councillors will vote on sweeping changes to reduce environmental impacts including a target of net zero carbon emissions

Mackay Regional Council's free native plant program is part of its Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2017-22. Picture: Mackay Regional Council.

A raft of measures have been proposed to curb climate change in Mackay, an issue identified as the region's third-highest strategic risk.

Councillors will vote on Wednesday whether to adopt modifications to a five-year plan aimed at strengthening Mackay's position as a "leader in environmental sustainability" through managing climate risk, natural resources, corporate waste, strategies and reporting.

Mackay Regional Council's Natural Environment Project Officer Gerard Ferguson at National Tree Day, Lagoons Creek Wetland.

Proposed changes to the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2017-22 incorporate prioritising a net zero carbon emissions target, promoting a circular regional waste economy, joining the Queensland coastal councils' task-force, increasing smart technology and sustainable transport and adopting a two-year Reef Guardian Action Plan.

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The RGAP's 2020-22 projects included offsetting the Mackay North Water Recycling Facility's nutrient load to improve raw water quality upstream of the Dumbleton Weir and discussing with SunWater to reinstate the weir's fish lock to allow fish to migrate in the Pioneer River.

Reef Catchments staff have captured this image of Dumbleton Weir, on Mackay's Pioneer River, using drone technology. Picture: Reef Catchments

It also aimed to reduce chemical use within sensitive areas, re-oxygenate the Gooseponds and work with traditional owners to install signs at key sites across Mackay.

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Since the overarching environmental strategy was adopted in 2017, the council's marked-off tasks include receiving best-management NIASA accreditation at the Mackay Environment Centre nursery, establishing a baseline for reducing herbicide use and providing free native plants to residents.

The council's full strategy can be read online.

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