Sustainability partners & groups

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There are many active organisations and groups that work towards improving our Region’s environmental sustainability.  Council works with local environmental groups in a variety of ways, through on the ground assistance, hosting and running events or supporting via funding or sponsorship of environmental events. 

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

The Reef Authority is Australia’s lead management agency for the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most iconic natural areas. They’ve provided world-leading marine park management since 1975 and are guided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and the best available science to protect values, reduce threats, and improve the current and long-term outlook for the Reef and the communities that depend on it. The Reef Authority works together with Traditional Owners, other Australian and Queensland government agencies, industry, community organisations, and individuals to help protect and manage the Reef. The Reef Authority’s Reef Guardian Councils program showcases environmentally sustainable practices local governments undertake in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. The program recognises the effective management and protection of the Reef requires a coordinated effort from industries, communities and all levels of government. There are 19 councils (including Rockhampton) between Bundaberg and Cooktown in the Reef Guardian Councils program undertaking various actions to help reduce impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. This covers an area of more than 300,000 square kilometres and includes approximately one million people.

Visit Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Follow Reef Authority on Facebook

CQUniversity

In 2014, the CQUniversity merged with CQ TAFE to bring together more than 175 years of combined experience in the delivery of education and training and establishing Queensland’s first comprehensive, dual sector university. The University now delivers more than 250 education and training offerings, from short courses and certificates, through to undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees.

CQUniversity works together with Rockhampton Regional Council to support research and on-ground initiatives that benefit the Rockhampton Region. CQUniversity is a key delivery partner in Council’s Natural Resource Management program, supporting local students to gain practical skills and experience at their project site near Frenchville Road.

Visit CQUniversity
Follow CQUniversity on Facebook

Fitzroy Basin Association

Fitzroy Basin Association Inc. (FBA) is a natural resource management (NRM) body.  FBA work to protect the Fitzroy Basin’s special places and species, promote sustainable industries, and reduce the impacts our region has on the Great Barrier Reef. At over 156,000 km2, and including over 20,000 km of waterways, the Fitzroy Basin is the largest river system draining into the waters of the iconic Great Barrier Reef. More than 3,700 agricultural businesses operate in our region, and about 20 per cent of Queensland’s 12 million head of cattle are grazed here. FBA coordinates a regional natural resource management strategy.

Visit Fitzroy Basin Association’s website
Follow Fitzroy Basin Association's I believe in a sustainable CQ facebook page
View CQSS2030

Capricornia Catchments

Capricornia Catchments Inc. is a not-for-profit, non-government community based, natural resource management organisation. The organisation’s office is based in Rockhampton, servicing an area of approximately 60,000km2 in Central Queensland. The organisation currently has over 900 individual members and 50 group members. Capricornia Catchments focus on improving natural resource management practices across the Region, coordinating on-ground works and capacity building activities and organising activities that raise awareness and promote continuous improvement.

Visit Capricornia Catchments’ website
Follow Capricornia Catchments on Facebook

Fitzroy Partnerships for River Health

The Partnership is a collective of government, agriculture, resources, industry, research and community interests across the Fitzroy Basin in Central Queensland.  Partners have a common goal of providing a more complete picture on river health and support this goal by providing funding, resources and contributing water quality and ecosystem health monitoring data through data-sharing arrangements.  With the annual Fitzroy Partnership for River Health Report Cards and a significant dataset over a number of years, trends are now beginning to emerge about the health of the catchments in the Fitzroy Basin. While not directly involved in river management, report card results are designed to inform consideration of whether current management strategies are proving successful in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems. The report cards will also help guide and improve a range of regional plans and potentially guide investments towards improved aquatic ecosystem health by governments and all partner organisations.

View Fitzroy Partnership for River Health’s website
Follow Fitzroy Partnership for River Heath on Facebook

Plastic Free CQ

The Plastic Free CQ program is a partnership between Boomerang Alliance and the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO), with support from the Queensland Government. Supported by Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council, Plastic Free CQ started in March 2021 to help local businesses go plastic free. In 2023, Plastic Free CQ expanded to include more communities in CQ when Bundaberg joined the program. Plastic Free CQ works directly with food retailers, events, markets and other organisations, assisting them to switch from single-use plastics to better alternatives, such as reusable (preferred) or compostable items. The Program also works with councils, suppliers, manufacturers, waste transport operators and composters to deliver real solutions to businesses.

View Plastic Free CQ's website

Follow Plastic Free CQ on Facebook

Landcare Australia

Landcare Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, and registered charity, which leads the promotion of and provision of financial support to the Landcare movement’s national resource management programme in Australia; aligning the practice of environmental management with land productivity, and devolving governance and management to local communities. 

Visit Landcare Australia’s website
Follow Landcare Australia on Facebook

Multicultural Australia

Multicultural Australia helps them to settle into their new lives, build connections in their communities, find work and study opportunities, learn new skills and feel at home. They also work with individuals, communities, business and government to help build a more welcoming Queensland through advocacy, cultural training and community events that bring people together, foster understanding and recognise the valuable contribution that new arrivals and migrants make to Queensland. Multicultural Australia is a key delivery partner in Council’s Natural Resource Management program and Upcycle Village projects, supporting local trainees to gain practical experience via the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

Visit Multicultural Australia
Follow Multicultural Australia on Facebook

Healthy Soils Inc.

Healthy Soils Rockhampton group are passionate about improving the condition of the soil and plant ecosystems in the Central Queensland and Capricorn regions.  The group's meetings are combined with field days, workshops or educational events that assist in learning and building knowledge to improve soil and plant health.  Healthy Soils Rockhampton are able to cater for grazing and cropping enterprises as well as comparing various management systems and have worked on a number of research projects. 

Visit Healthy Soils Inc. website
Follow Healthy Soils Australia on Facebook

Capricorn Conservation Council

Capricorn Conservation Council (CCC) has been the peak environmental advocacy group protecting the Central Queensland environment for over 45 years. CCC advocates for better environmental policy, supports local groups on campaigns to protect our natural landscape and marine environments, and encourages action on climate change through education and community engagement.

Visit Capricorn Conservation Council's website

Follow Capricorn Conservation Council on Facebook

BirdLife Capricornia

BirdLife Capricornia has members from the Capricorn Coast, Rockhampton and Gladstone, and out to the far west towns of Longreach and Winton. Their focus is on local bird-related activities, such as field trips throughout the area, conservation actions to protect birds, education activities to inform local communities and joint projects with local conservation groups to reach a wider audience. They also encourage family involvement with junior activities and family-friendly day trips.

Visit Birdlife Capricornia’s website
Follow Birdlife Australia on Facebook

Native Plants Capricornia

The Rockhampton based branch of Native Plants Queensland hosts monthly meetings and excursions and welcomes anyone interested in any aspect of native plants. We welcome new members and like most groups are keen to recruit new/younger members. Our members have diverse backgrounds. Some are (or were) professional biologists, some are keen gardeners and plant propagators while some simply want to enjoy and learn more about native plants in our central Queensland ecosystems. Our branch works with a number of local organisations to present information, talks and activities relating to native plants. A small group of volunteers works with Rockhampton Regional Council’s Nursery on propagation projects. 

Visit the Native Plants Capricornia website

Follow Native Plants Capricornia on Facebook

Hope Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Inc

Hope Animal Sanctuary and Rescue is a local CQ charity organization, run by volunteers and licensed to rehabilitate wildlife, rescue and re-home unwanted poultry, domestic birds and reptiles.

Visit Hope Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Inc's website
Follow Hope Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Inc on Facebook

Planet Ark

Planet Ark Environmental Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a world where people live in balance with nature and to unite people, businesses and governments through positive environmental actions. Planet Ark’s objectives are to promote sustainable resource use, to encourage a low carbon lifestyle and to connect people with nature.  Planet Ark coordinate a range of national sustainability campaigns such as ‘Cartridges for Planet Ark’, National Recycling Week and National Tree Day.

Visit Plant Ark’s website
Follow Planet Ark on Facebook

Clean Up Australia Day

A simple litter clean up to make a difference in your own backyard has become the nation's largest community-based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day. Clean Up Australia Day is a community based environmental program that inspires and empowers individuals and communities from every corner of the globe to clean up, fix up and conserve their environment. Clean Up Australia Day is held annually in March. 

Visit Clean Up Australia Day’s website
Follow Clean Up Australia Day on Facebook

Tangaroa Blue

Tangaroa Blue Foundation is an Australian-wide not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, one of the major environmental issues worldwide. But if all we do is clean-up, that is all we will ever do.

To successfully solve the problem, the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) was created, an on-ground network of volunteers, communities and organisations that contribute data from rubbish collected during beach and river clean-up events to the AMDI Database, and then work on solutions to stop the flow of litter at the source. The AMDI helps communities look after their coastal environment by providing resources and support programs, and collaborates with industry and government to create change on a large scale.

Visit Tangaroa Blue’s website
Follow Tangaroa Blue on facebook

EcoBiz 

EcoBiz is a Queensland government sponsored program designed to help Queensland businesses understand resource use and cut costs. The free program enables organisations to access one-on-one coaching and access a range of services that will support energy, water and waste efficiencies. 

Visit EcoBiz's website
Follow EcoBiz on Facebook