Integrated Sustainability Services

Integrated Sustainability Services mission is to promote and provide Integrated Sustainability Services to council and the community so as to achieve the goals and strategies of the TCC Corporate Plan and Council policies.

The City's natural and built environment is important to the future prosperity of Townsville and its community. Sustainable use of the environment can be achieved by proper environmental planning procedures. This sustainability will require acknowledgment of Agenda 21 issues, Integrated Environmental Management and natural area, coastal and catchment management.

The proper management of Townsville's environment and its resources for the future can be achieved by having detailed knowledge of natural systems and current impacts and pressures placed upon them. Factual data on these impacts and pressures can provide an important tool for decision making and monitoring.

Integrated Sustainability Services is responsible to council for researching and collating Integrated Environmental Management and advising council on implementation.

Environmental Programs

Integrated Sustainability Services delivers programs, initiatives and activities in five main areas.

Environmental Management

Integrated Sustainability Services is about strategic and operational planning for environmental management in Townsville, including impact assessment, community education/awareness programs, State of Environment Reporting and maintaining a Natural Assets Register. Integrated Sustainability Services aims to ensure environmental, biodiversity, nature conservation and natural resources issues are considered in Council decisions.

Natural Area Management

Natural Area Management aims at developing, demonstrating and implementing best practice natural area management within the council and the community, in the management, conservation and sustainable use of Townsville's natural assets. On-going implementation of council's on-ground nature conservation project and wetlands and compliance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld).

Integrated Environmental Management and Sustainability

Integrated Environmental Management and Sustainability is primarily focussed on continual improvement of council's operational performance in all council departments, sections and business units. Integrated Environmental Management and Sustainability is designed to address the institutionalisation of environmental issues and community concerns in it's daily operations and decision making. This area encompasses environmental licensing, monitoring, auditing and reporting of council operations.

Coastal Management

Coastal Management issues for Townsville City Council are detailed in council's Environmental Conservation Strategy. Local government has an expanding role with changes to legislation and implementation of Commonwealth's Coastal and Marine Policies. The coastline under the control of the Townsville City Council requires specialised management practices, including integration with community Coastcare projects, other government agencies and opportunities and careful consideration of the issues involved when providing strategic direction in land use.

Landcare and Catchment Management

Landcare and Catchment Management aims to integrate the management of land, water, vegetation and other biological resources on a regional community and government Landcare and Catchment basis. Council is a key contributor to the "Community Natural Resources Management for the Townsville Coastal Plains" strategy development under Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). NHT is the delivery platform for Commonwealth and State community and agency natural resources funding. Local government has been identified as a key integrator and resourcer of the NHT process (Memorandum of Understanding between Commonwealth, State and Local Government).

Land Protection

The Land Protection staff look after the prevention and management of declared pest plants and animals in Townsville. This involves implementing the Townsville Local Government Area Pest Management Plan, establishing practices to prevent the introduction of new pests and strategies to eradicate existing pests in small numbers. It also includes taking measures to contain established pests in Townsville, liaising with landholders, and enforcing the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Read more...