11 February 2008 

Townsville City Council and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will showcase their approach to protecting and managing our coastal and marine environments to 80 local government delegates from Thailand this Monday.

The delegation is visiting Townsville on a tour across Australia to study Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management as part of a United Nation backed project aimed at improving water quality in the Gulf of Thailand.

Townsville City Council Deputy Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the Council was delighted to have the opportunity to present the achievements of Council’s flagship ‘Creek to Coral’ and ‘Sustainable Townsville’ programs and help the delegation understand the steps they can take to improve land based pollution and water quality.

“We are keen to show the delegates how a total water cycle management approach can dramatically reduce the amount of land based pollutants reaching the marine environment,” Cr Hill said.

“The delegation will see first hand some of the measures we have integrated into our coastal management plan like gross pollutant traps which capture coarse pollutants such as litter and some sediments before that water flows out into the Marine Park.

“They will also visit Magnetic Island to learn how the islands water treatment plants are helping reduce pollutants reaching its World Heritage waters using state-of-the art membrane bioreactor technology.

“I’m hopeful the delegates will return to Thailand armed with the knowledge they need to help improve their own coastal management.”

GBRMPA Executive Director Mr Andrew Skeat said it is a great opportunity for Townsville City Council, one of only four Reef Guardian Councils, to showcase the work they are doing to help improve the quality of water reaching the Great Barrier Reef.

“Poor water quality is one of the biggest threats facing the Reef and to marine environments the world over but there are ways individuals, groups, industry and all levels of Government can work together to turn this around,” he said.

“As a Reef Guardian, Townsville City Council is ideally placed to share their experiences and successes with their counterparts from Thailand.

“Hopefully the delegation will learn about the great work being undertaken in Australia to improve water quality and apply it in Thailand with good results.”

The catchment tour will be followed by a presentation and tour of Reef HQ Aquarium.