AusLeisure

In partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Whitsunday Regional Council has recommitted to the Reef Guardian Council program.

The commitment sees the Whitsunday Regional Council be a Reef Guardian Council for the 2020-2024 period and their joining other councils in leading the nation in driving local action to support a healthy Great Barrier Reef.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox said his Council was proud to support the Reef Guardian program and added “the Whitsundays is the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef and we are the custodians for a unique part of the world.

“Our community has a passionate and strong connection with the Great Barrier Reef as many of our residents live near the coast.

“Council is leading the way with environmental initiatives like the recently completed Greening and Growing Bowen project.

“The high-quality recycled water will be reused to irrigate and green Bowen’s parks, sports fields and golf courses and is a big step forward in greening and growing Bowen for future generations.”

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Assistant Director for Regional Engagement, Carolyn Roche said the Whitsunday region had an important role to play as a Reef champion and leader of change.

Roches notes “with its beautiful beaches, national parks, ranges and the iconic Whitsunday Islands, the area is not only important for its ecological and cultural heritage values but as a world renowned tourism destination.

“The region is naturally linked to the Great Barrier Reef – it’s part of the area’s identity.

“We hope the Reef Guardian Council program will help to spread the message that people taking action now – however small – will help the Reef. This is a mission for everyone, everywhere.

“By working together we harness the power of collective action. We expect at least 18 local governments in the Reef catchment will sign up to be Reef Guardians for the next four years.”

Related Articles

16th June 2020 - Great Barrier Reef campaigners deliver message of Reef-safe recovery

5th June 2020 - Great Barrier Reef Foundation announces Australia’s first integrated Reef Restoration Hub

13th May 2020 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators to receive additional financial assistance

7th March 2020 - Underwater ‘reefsuites’ now welcoming guests on the Great Barrier Reef

5th March 2020 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators highlight the distressing impacts of coral bleaching 

2nd November 2019 - Great Barrier Reef island reborn as eco-friendly luxury holiday destination

30th August 2019 - Great Barrier Reef status downgraded to very poor for first time

16th March 2020 - Whitsunday tourism operators receive fee relief

18th January 2020 - New Whitsundays tourism campaign set to be launched

16th August 2019 - Hayman Island regeneration heralds ‘new era’ for Whitsundays

18th February 2019 - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority delivers training program for Reef guides

12th December 2018 - Australian Marine Conservation Society demands Adani court admission of Great Barrier Reef pollution

8th June 2018 - Coral bleaching leads to fall in domestic tourism to Great Barrier Reef

18th April 2018 - Massive extinction of Great Barrier Reef coral during 2016 marine heatwave

22nd January 2018 - Federal Government to fund $60 million Great Barrier Reef rescue package

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.