13 October 2010

Gladstone Regional Council has today shown its commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef by partnering with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to officially become a Reef Guardian Council.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Chairman Dr Russell Reichelt said the Great Barrier Reef was facing increasing pressures and it was local government commitment to initiatives like Reef Guardian Councils that would help ensure the Reef was well placed to meet the challenges ahead.

"The Great Barrier Reef is at a crossroad and it is the decisions made in the next few years that are likely to determine its long-term future," Dr Reichelt said.

"Initiatives such as the Reef Guardian Councils program will help to ensure the resilience of the Reef in the face of a changing climate.

"The Reef Guardian Councils program is an innovative program that recognises council's environmental projects while encouraging participants to foster environmental stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park through increased commitment to best management practices.

"I am delighted that Gladstone Regional Council have recognised the importance of the program in protecting the Great Barrier Reef and taken this opportunity to come on board as a Reef Guardian Council.

"I congratulate the council and we look forward to working closely with them to address pressures from climate change and to build the resilience of the Reef by improving water quality flowing from the catchment to the Marine Park."

Acting Mayor of Gladstone Regional Council Gail Sellers said the council welcomed the opportunity to participate in the Reef Guardian Council Program as its goals and objectives aligned well with the council’s environmental objectives.

“The objectives of the program will be embedded in our council’s practice, assisting us to improve our capacity to achieve better environmental outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef,” Cr Sellers said.

“We are looking forward to identifying future initiatives under the Reef Guardian Program that will help to further protect Australia’s national icon.”

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