Local Government Perspective on Hilltops2Oceans (H2O) Greg Bruce Manager Environmental Management Services Townsville City Council .

Local Government PerspectiveLocal Government Perspectiveon Hilltops2Oceans (H2O)on Hilltops2Oceans (H2O)

Greg BruceManagerEnvironmental Management ServicesTownsville City Council

www.soe-townsville.org

Local Government Perspective on Hilltops2OceansLocal Government Perspective on Hilltops2OceansKey ElementsKey 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 and sea in our area for the first time.

Local Government Context Geographically speakingLocal Government Context Geographically speaking

Dry SeasonSatellite image

Wet SeasonSatellite image

Louisa Ck.Catchment flyover

Background to integrated frameworksBackground 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 and 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 Background to integrated frameworks (continued)(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 Background to integrated frameworks (continued)(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.

TCC projects which demonstrate an integrated approachTCC projects which demonstrate an integrated approach

• Designed and implemented “concrete” solutions (bioengineered GPTs and wetland treatment trains at Louisa Creek NHT Clean Seas Project & USI CBD Urban Waterway Project = A$2M investment)

• 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

Local Government & Community Healthy Waterway Partnerships, Alliances and Projects

Projects which demonstrate an integrated infrastructure based: Projects which demonstrate an integrated infrastructure based: community approachcommunity 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 (NaREF)

•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/hilltops2oceans

Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land and Sea) locally Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land and Sea) locally with communitywith 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 and Sea) locally Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land and Sea) locally with communitywith community (continued) (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.

• Central driver behind the case of establishing Creekwatch.• Always dependent on the financial and human resources available

to complete the task • 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 and Sea) locally Challenges in Institutionalising ICZM (Land and Sea) locally with communitywith community (continued) (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:Case Study: Creek to CoralCreek to Coral““our waterways, our responsibility”our waterways, our responsibility”

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

Launched on the 12th December, 2003 by the Qld Minister for Environment & the Mayors of Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils

“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.”

Infrastructure basedCommunity focusedAdaptive management frameworkIntegrated network (community, industry, science, government)Local ownershipEnvironmentally sustainable

Draft Business Plan 2004-2005Draft Business Plan 2004-2005

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection PlanCRC Catchment to Reef ProgramCSIRO Healthy Country Flagship ProgramCoastal Catchments InitiativeUrban Stormwater Quality Management Plans (USQMP)Ross River Waterway Management SystemRegional Burdekin Dry Tropics Accredited NRM PlanCity Plans (TCC & CoT)Environmental Management Plans

Lots of individual catchment management initiativesLots of individual catchment management initiatives

Today’s situation:Today’s situation:

supporting

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Community PerceptionsCommunity Perceptions

Twin cities waterways are valued and the perception is they are fairly clean but need improving

People think of the waterways as compartments (i.e. Ross River, The Strand), not as an integrated catchment system

They can relate to the Creek to Coral concept and like it Litter and Rubbish are the main problems Waterway Management is the responsibility of everyone

“Our Waterways – Our Responsibility”

supporting

Back to “Challenges”Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Townsville Map with STP

TownsvilleTownsville

Bohle River

Ross River

Ross Dam

Black River

Mt St John STP

Discharge

Bohle River STP

Discharge

Magnetic Island

Townsville Port

Sandfly Creek

Alligator Creek

Crocodile Creek

Cape Cleveland

Cleveland Bay STP

Discharge

Condon STP

Discharge

Mt Low STP

Discharge

Deeragun STP

Discharge

Ross River Catchment

Area 1707 km2

Sugar <10 km2

Hort. <10 km2

Clearing 1229 km2

Grazing 1481 km2

Ensure sustainable management of storm water, ground water and effluent

Focus on the benefits of total water cycle management including recycled water

Reduce N & P discharge from STP to 5:1 ratio by 2008 through a load based licence

ObjectivesObjectives include…include…

View the coastal marine environment as a biophysical indicator of our effectiveness in managing terrestrial waterways and wetlands.

Identify waterway health indicators & develop a score card system to access ecosystem health

Inform, educate, and involve community based stewardship, awareness and ownership of catchment and wetland issues (including recreational use)

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

ObjectivesObjectives includeinclude(continued)…(continued)…

CoTTPA

(Cleveland Bay

Consortium)

EPA

GBRMPA(LMAC)

NQ Water

Biodiversity & natural values of catchment

Storm water, treated water, water supply

and use

Community ownership and

education

Monitoring and catchment

health indicators

Urban and rural planning

and development

Key terrestrial and coastal

sites

Scientific research agencies

Coordination

BDTB

Traditional Owner Groups(BDTB)

Govt.

Agencies

NaREF

Commerce and

Industry

Schools&

Community Groups

TCC(CVA)

Framework

Current Board of Directors

TCC Mayor, CoT Mayor, GBRMPA, EPA Executive Director

Current Project Control Group

Consists of representatives from TCC, CoT, EPA, GBRMPA

C to C CoordinatorTraditional Owner Advisory Group

(BDTB)

Environmental Management Reference Group

EPA, NQ Water, TCC, CoT, TPA, GBRMPA

Working Groups

Communications NetworkCommunications Network

Integrated Water Quality Monitoring

and Research

CRCReefACTFR

JCUAIMS

CSIROCoTTCCEPA

GBRMPANQ Water

TPACVA

DNR&MDPIAAL

DefenceQNIAMH

BM Webb Group

Community Education and Involvement

NaREFCVA

GBRMPATCC

CitiwaterCoT

Thuringowa Water

Environmental Protection and Emergency Response

EPATCCCoTDPITPA

DNR&MAAL

On-ground Action and Infrastructure

TCCCoT

NQ WaterNaREF

TPAThuringowa

WaterCitiwater

Main Roads

Community Partners

Seagrass Watch, Reef Check, Louisa CreekwatchFish Watch (TCC), Traditional Owners, TSV Sustainable Schools

Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC)Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare

Marine Coastal Community Network (MCCN), Reef Guardian SchoolsIndo Pacific Sea Turtle Conservation Group (IPSTCG)

Burdekin Dry Tropics Board (BDTB), NQCCNatural Resource Environment Forum (NaREF)

The Working GroupsThe Working Groups

Integrated Water Quality Monitoring & Research

Community Education and Involvement

On-ground Action and Infrastructure

Environmental Protection & Emergency Response

• 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

INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUPWORKING GROUP

Catchment tours Events (Ecofiesta, Wetlands festival) Reef Guardian Schools (Reef Beat) TSV Sustainable Schools Calenders, fliers, posters

Seagrass Coral Reef Health Water quality & Fish Marine Turtles

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Community Education, Involvement and Community Education, Involvement and MonitoringMonitoring

LOCAL, STATE & COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT

AGENCIES

COMMUNITY GROUPS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AGENCIES

INDUSTRY & COMMERCE

EPA Louisa Creek Watch CRC Reef Aust Meat Holdings

DNR WaterWatch JCU Sun Metals

NQ Water NaREF ACTFR Xtrata Copper

TPA Reef Check AIMS BM Webb Group

CoT Sea Grass Watch CSIRO QNI

TCC IPSTCG DPI

AAL TSV airport OUCH

DPI MCCN   

Defence

Qld Transport

Monitor receiving water quality & ecosystem healthEstablish baseline understanding of current monitoringReport cards / State of Environment reports

Water Quality MonitoringWater Quality Monitoring

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Coral Fish habitat & species Aquatic weeds Riparian vegetation Mangroves, seagrass, algae Turtles (marine/fresh) / dugong Birds Water Quality

Ecosystem HealthEcosystem Health

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

ScoreCard

Graphic courtesy of SEQ Healthy Waterways

Townsville City Council

City of Thuringowa

Environmental Protection Agency

NQ Water

Townsville Port Authority

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Current PartnersCurrent Partners

exit

The End

CyberFactory.com.au

SustainableTownsville

C2C

Combined Townsville, Thuringowa and State Government Initiative to Maintain and Enhance our Healthy Waterways in the

Coastal Dry Tropics

An acting coordinator has been employed by TCC to initiate implementation of the Creek to Coral project.

The project coordinator will facilitate the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the project control groups and the working groups.

Creek to Coral Administration and managementCreek to Coral Administration and management

Stakeholder involvement in agreement-based decision making

Whole of community approach to monitoring & feedback

Local government as champions and advocates

Good quality integrated monitoring

Effective and timely project management

Good external links to regional planning & funding (all levels of government involved and committed)

Adequate funding generated through creative alliances of governments, industry and community

Slide prepared by R. Allan – C2C Project Officer

Success FactorsSuccess Factors

Thuringowa

Area 1057 km2

Sugar 9.7 km2

Hort. 4.2 km2

Clearing 501 km2

Grazing 802 km2

Black River Catchment