Local Government Perspective on Hilltops 2 Oceans H

Local Government Perspective on Hilltops 2 Oceans (H 2 O) Greg Bruce Manager Environmental Management Services Townsville City Council www. soe-townsville. org

Local Government Perspective on Hilltops 2 Oceans Key Elements • Local Government & Community healthy waterway partnerships & projects in conjunction with major engineering water assets. • Infrastructure based approach (Citiworks & Citiwater) • Community involvement & acknowledgement • The challenges and opportunities • Roles and activities of Local Government which affect change • Promoting “total water cycle management” principles and “whole of catchment management and sustainability”. • ICZM as local action: an The evolution of “Creek to Coral” which links the land sea in our area for the first time.

Local Government Context Geographically speaking Dry Season Satellite image Wet Season Satellite image Louisa Ck. Catchment flyover

Background to integrated frameworks • Council has been involved extensively in developing partnerships and alliances as a significant part of its policy, programs, and operations. Sometimes with success, sometimes not… • This has involved challenges and demonstrated clear opportunities for “integrated coastal zone management” including “whole of catchment management” and; • Finally achieving the linking of land sea via the Healthy Waterways program of “Creek to Coral”. The Coral being indicative of the fringing coral reefs off Townsville and around Magnetic Island…

Background to integrated frameworks (continued) • Working with community groups in extensive catchment management initiatives. • Support landcare groups across the twin cities of Townsville-Thuringowa and even further afield in association with the Burdekin Shire River Improvement Trust. • Support for on-ground wetland protection, management and promotion with private property owners. (Serpentine Lagoon - wetland of national significance), state government (Town Common and Louisa Creek). • The model – “Sustainability Planning Framework for Townsville City” demonstrates the internal and external relationships appropriate to the integration of water management (Sustainable Townsville program).

Background to integrated frameworks (continued) • Environment officers have been working with Council’s water management and drainage engineering business units; • Leading edge of environmental care & management; • Transforming cultures in both environment and engineering fields to: – reflect the natural water cycle, – develop understanding of each others socio-economic and business needs, (especially cost effective maintenance and access to waterways) – integrate management process via stormwater/drainage/water management plans (eg: USQMP) and projects (NHT Clean Seas/USI) • Including complimentary development of significant partnerships with: – Conservation Volunteers Australia for delivering community waterway education and; – local Landcare groups for revegetation and riparian management.

Local Government & Community Healthy Waterway Partnerships, Alliances and Projects TCC projects which demonstrate an integrated approach • Designed and implemented “concrete” solutions (bioengineered GPTs • Developing a Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan (USQMP) • Obtaining integrated Drainage and Waterway Permits/Licenses • Community waterway management education process • Creek To Coral “Our waterways, our responsibility” • Carbon Neutral Water Recycling Project and wetland treatment trains at Louisa Creek NHT Clean Seas Project & USI CBD Urban Waterway Project = A$2 M investment)

Projects which demonstrate an integrated infrastructure based: community approach • 5 Day soil erosion and sediment control course for the Tropics International Erosion Control Association (IECA) endorsed. • Haughton River rural catchment management (ICM) • Landcare & Catchment Centre (Dry Tropics Landcare Inc. ) • Supporting regional community NRM plan (Na. REF) • Cleveland Bay Consortium (water quality studies in bay) • Townsville Healthy Cities Plan (Environmental Health Officers) • Burdekin Dry Tropics Local Government Network (BDTLGN) • Regional Natural Assets Database (with Townsville Enterprise) • Townsville State of Environment Report – web based & dynamic www. soe-townsville. org/hilltops 2 oceans

Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land Sea) locally with community link to table page • • What looking after our waterways means and the types of agreements and partnerships which assist and don’t. Historically and contemporarily very little quantitative information available. • Catchment variability across the landscape and geography of Australia • Surveys and focus groups have shown that people in Townsville are concerned about the environment. – This does not translate into what actions they either need to take or are responsible for. • “Kakadu syndrome”

Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land Sea) locally with community (continued) link to table page • Extra financial and social impost on the Council and how it manages its urban environments (especially retrofitting but also greenfields developments). • Developing community interest in environmental management and finding ways for them to be involved and participate is local challenge. • • Always dependent on the financial and human resources available to complete the task • • Central driver behind the case of establishing Creekwatch. Which leads to an innovative approach of seeking partners and developing appropriate levels of integration Spending too much time on ideals and principles – the “way it should be”, • get it going, small steps and then work on refining the structure if required.

Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land Sea) locally with community (continued) link to table page • Look for champions, or find where the capacity occurs or might occur and then seek to invest in that direction. • Developing trust, respect and the ability to provide written agreements which encapsulate expectations, liaison process, resources, and reporting. • The best efforts and capability of the representatives themselves Recognising that it is all a process and that different things happen at varying speeds and at different times. • • To act when the opportunity presents, and working with the up front “get on boarders” • Councils responsibilities have been increasing in environmental management and protection

Case Study: Creek to Coral “our waterways, our responsibility” Launched on the 12 th December, 2003 by the Qld Minister for Environment & the Mayors of Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils Business Plan • Vision • Objectives • Framework • Partners • Communication Network • Working groups • Success Factors Combined Townsville, Thuringowa and State Government Initiative to Maintain and Enhance our Healthy Waterways in the Coastal Dry Tropics

Draft Business Plan 2004 -2005 “To achieve, sustain and promote the benefits of a clean, fresh and marine water ecosystem and to encourage, educate and involve community in integrated catchment management”. Emphasis is placed on information exchange linking objectives resulting in increased quality of water in the Townsville Thuringowa Coastal Dry Tropics region. ” ØInfrastructure based ØCommunity focused ØAdaptive management framework ØIntegrated network (community, industry, science, government) ØLocal ownership ØEnvironmentally sustainable Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Today’s situation: Lots of individual catchment management initiatives ØGreat Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan ØCRC Catchment to Reef Program ØCSIRO Healthy Country Flagship Program ØCoastal Catchments Initiative ØUrban Stormwater Quality Management Plans (USQMP) ØRoss River Waterway Management System ØRegional Burdekin Dry Tropics Accredited NRM Plan ØCity Plans (TCC & Co. T) ØEnvironmental Management Plans supporting Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Community Perceptions Ø Twin cities waterways are valued and the perception is they are fairly clean but need improving Ø People think of the waterways as compartments (i. e. Ross River, The Strand), not as an integrated catchment system Ø They can relate to the Creek to Coral concept and like it Ø Litter and Rubbish are the main problems Ø Waterway Management is the responsibility of everyone “Our Waterways – Our Responsibility” supporting Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer Back to “Challenges”

Townsville Map with STP Magnetic Island Discharge Black River Bohle River Discharge Townsville Port Bohle River STP Discharge Mt St John STP Discharge Ross River Sandfly Creek Crocodile Creek Alligator Creek Discharge Condon STP Discharge Cleveland Bay STP Ross Dam Area 1707 km 2 Sugar Cape Cleveland Mt Low STP Deeragun STP Ross River Catchment <10 km 2 Hort. <10 km 2 Clearing 1229 km 2 Grazing 1481 km 2

Objectives include… ØEnsure sustainable management of storm water, ground water and effluent ØFocus on the benefits of total water cycle management including recycled water ØReduce N & P discharge from STP to 5: 1 ratio by 2008 through a load based licence

Objectives include (continued)… ØView the coastal marine environment as a biophysical indicator of our effectiveness in managing terrestrial waterways and wetlands. ØIdentify waterway health indicators & develop a score card system to access ecosystem health ØInform, educate, and involve community based stewardship, awareness and ownership of catchment and wetland issues (including recreational use) Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Framework Schools & Commu nity Groups Community ownership and education Key terrestrial and coastal sites Na. REF Biodiversity & natural values of catchment TCC (CVA) TPA (Cleveland Bay Consortiu m) Govt. Agencie s BDT B Co. T Coordina tion Commer ce and Industry EPA NQ Water GBRMP A Monitoring and catchment health indicators Storm water, treated water, water supply and use (LMAC) Traditio nal Owner Groups (BDTB) Urban and rural planning and developmen t Scientifi c researc h agencie

Communications Network Current Board of Directors TCC Mayor, Co. T Mayor, GBRMPA, EPA Executive Director Current Project Control Group Consists of representatives from TCC, Co. T, EPA, GBRMPA Environmental Management Reference Group EPA, NQ Water, TCC, Co. T, TPA, GBRMPA Traditional Owner Advisory Group (BDTB) C to C Coordinator Working Groups

Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Research Community Education and Involvement CRCReef ACTFR JCU AIMS CSIRO Co. T TCC EPA GBRMPA NQ Water TPA CVA DNR&M DPI AAL Defence QNI AMH BM Webb Group Na. REF CVA GBRMPA TCC Citiwater Co. T Thuringowa Water On-ground Action and Infrastructure Environmental Protection and Emergency Response TCC Co. T NQ Water Na. REF TPA Thuringowa Water Citiwater Main Roads EPA TCC Co. T DPI TPA DNR&M AAL Community Partners Seagrass Watch, Reef Check, Louisa Creekwatch Fish Watch (TCC), Traditional Owners, TSV Sustainable Schools Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Marine Coastal Community Network (MCCN), Reef Guardian Schools Indo Pacific Sea Turtle Conservation Group (IPSTCG)

The Working Groups Ø Integrated Water Quality Monitoring & Research Ø Community Education and Involvement Ø On-ground Action and Infrastructure Ø Environmental Protection & Emergency Response

INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP • Stormwater (GPTs) • Sewage / recycled water (STPs, Industries) • Water supply & treatment • Managing point source discharge from industry and ERA’s • Rivers, creeks & wetland rehabilitation • Groundwater Use Graphic courtesy of SEQ Healthy Waterways

Community Education, Involvement and Monitoring Ø Catchment tours Ø Events (Ecofiesta, Wetlands festival) Ø Reef Guardian Schools (Reef Beat) Ø TSV Sustainable Schools Ø Calenders, fliers, posters Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer Seagrass Coral Reef Health Water quality & Fish Marine Turtles

Water Quality Monitoring ØMonitor receiving water quality & ecosystem health ØEstablish baseline understanding of current monitoring ØReport cards / State of Environment reports LOCAL, STATE & COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COMMUNITY GROUPS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AGENCIES INDUSTRY & COMMERCE EPA Louisa Creek Watch CRC Reef Aust Meat Holdings DNR Water. Watch JCU Sun Metals NQ Water Na. REF ACTFR Xtrata Copper TPA Reef Check AIMS BM Webb Group Co. T Sea Grass Watch CSIRO QNI TCC IPSTCG DPI AAL TSV airport OUCH DPI MCCN Defence Qld Transport Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Ecosystem Health Ø Coral Ø Fish habitat & species Ø Aquatic weeds Ø Riparian vegetation Ø Mangroves, seagrass, algae Ø Turtles (marine/fresh) / dugong Ø Birds Ø Water Quality Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Score. Card Graphic courtesy of SEQ Healthy Waterways

Current Partners ØTownsville City Council ØCity of Thuringowa ØEnvironmental Protection Agency ØNQ Water ØTownsville Port Authority ØGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

The End exit Sustainable Townsville Cyber. Factory. com. au

C 2 C Combined Townsville, Thuringowa and State Government Initiative to Maintain and Enhance our Healthy Waterways in the Coastal Dry Tropics

Creek to Coral Administration and management Ø An acting coordinator has been employed by TCC to initiate implementation of the Creek to Coral project. Ø The project coordinator will facilitate the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the project control groups and the working groups.

Success Factors ØStakeholder involvement in agreement-based decision making ØWhole of community approach to monitoring & feedback ØLocal government as champions and advocates ØGood quality integrated monitoring ØEffective and timely project management ØGood external links to regional planning & funding (all levels of government involved and committed) ØAdequate funding generated through creative alliances of governments, industry and community Slide prepared by R. Allan – C 2 C Project Officer

Thuringowa Black River Catchment Area 1057 km 2 Sugar 9. 7 km 2 Hort. 4. 2 km 2 Clearing 501 km 2 Grazing 802 km 2