Townsville Water Quality Improvement Plan Activities
Introduction
Creek to Coral is coordinating a broad range of actions that have emerged from the Black Ross (Townsville) WQIP as well as continuing with some great activities that have been so successful in the past.
The major Creek to Coral coordinated project underway at present is funded through the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program [external website]. The project is called “Increasing community engagement in Townsville coastal catchments for biodiversity”. Have a look at the project and see how you could be involved.
Other actions underway include:
- The final version of the Black Ross (Townsville) WQIP is being printed;
- Investigation and actions to incorporate the State Planning Policy Healthy Waters [external website] into Council matters;
- Preparation of additional Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) documents to complement the WSUD products developed through the Townsville WQIP;
- Preparing a WSUD training program to accompany the introduction of the State Planning Policy Healthy Waters (came into effect in May 2011) and the Townsville WSUD guidelines;
- Scoping the Integrated Water Quality Management Plan for Townsville;
- Coordination of the Reef Urban Stormwater Management Working Group – the fourth meeting was held in Rockhampton in April 2011. Planning is underway for the next meeting to be held in Brisbane;
- Assisting with environmental management and sustainability input for the preparation of the new Townsville City Planning Scheme [TCC website] especially with regard to water quality, waterway and wetland management, WSUD guidelines and urban stormwater management;
- Reef Guardian Councils actions [TCC website];
- Scoping of a total water cycle management plan (TWCMP) and urban stormwater management plan (USQMP) [external website] for Townsville as required under the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 [external website];
- Involvement in the Dry Tropics Watersmart program [TCC website];
- Managing reinstallation of a solar powered pump (damaged by Cyclone Yasi) at Keyatta Lake [TCC SOE website] to circulate water through a constructed wetland to improve water quality and test the effectiveness of WSUD measures;
- Concept planning and design for expansion of the Lakes Savanna Wetlands [TCC SOE website];
- Assisting with the update of the Eco-catchment Tours Interpretive Plan [TCC SOE website];
- Developing new and updated interpretive material for the Rowes Bay Wetland reserve [TCC SOE website];
- Involvement in the IBM Smarter Cities challenge [external website];
- Providing input to the Sustainable Townsville Plan and Eco-city Strategy.
