‘Efficiencies’: FNQ Mayor backs decision to stop yearly release of environmental data
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden has defended a decision to stop releasing annual figures on the council’s sustainability practices after it was revealed the council had dumped 20,000 tonnes more waste into landfill than the last time numbers were released.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden has defended a decision to stop releasing annual figures on the council’s sustainability practices after it was revealed the council had dumped 20,000 tonnes more waste into landfill than the last time numbers were released.
But Cairns councillors have objected, arguing that issuing a State of the Environment report once every four years “fails the pub test”.
The next report is scheduled to be released following the end of the 2026/27 financial year and will document the council’s waste, recycling and emissions totals.
Ms Eden said the council changed its reporting to align with the state government’s reporting requirements.
“I’ve wanted to ensure that we run an efficient council,” she said.
“If that brings efficiencies, then absolutely. It doesn’t mean that councillors don’t get information periodically throughout that four years.
“We’ve done a lot of heavy lifting in this space as reported in our State of the Environment reports, and I know we’ll continue to do a lot of heavy lifting.”
But Division Seven councillor Anna Middleton said the 56,726 tonnes of rubbish sent to Springmount waste facility in 2024/25, compared to 36,239 tonnes in 2021/22 highlighted the need for sustainability figures to be charted.
“We need to be holding ourselves to account with our environment and reporting more,” Ms Middleton said.
“I know there are some challenges with data collection, but I don’t think those time periods are really acceptable.
“The environment is moving very fast at the moment, and I think we need to be keeping on top of it in a much more succinct and evidence-based way. These type of reports enable us both to celebrate the good things we’re doing but identify the things that we need to improve.”
The fire that destroyed the Bedminster Advanced Resource Recovery Facility had drawn attention to the council’s environmental credentials, Division Five councillor Rob Pyne said.
“There’s a lot of concern about things like the Boral spill, the Portsmith fire and emissions,” Mr Pyne said.
“People want to know if our emissions are coming down or going up.”
The council has considered launching a social media page to better highlight conservation efforts in the region, Ms Eden said.
“I’m not committing anyone to anything but it might be with Terrain NRM,” she said.
“It might be CAFNEC to show that real partnership between council and the community, and they could be bite-sized bits of information and education about the environment and how we can all play a role.
“Council’s social media feed, as you know, does get a little bit congested with a boil water notice or the rates have just been issued or we’ve got the Cowboys coming to Cairns and having a dedicated stream where you can get that information (might help).”
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Originally published as ‘Efficiencies’: FNQ Mayor backs decision to stop yearly release of environmental data
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