Awards recognise Sunshine Coast sustainability strategy

Plans for protecting the environment and delivering a livable Sunshine Coast have put Sunshine Coast Council on the list of finalists for this year’s Banksia Sustainability Awards. The council’s Environment and Liveability Strategy (ELS) is a contender for the awards, to be held on 23–24 March 2021.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said he was delighted to see the integrated and proactive approach to regional planning and sustainability acknowledged at this level.

“Our Environment and Liveability Strategy is a long-term plan to maintain the livability of our region and build on our outstanding environmental credentials,” Mayor Jamieson said. “This nomination is on the back of Sunshine Coast Council winning the Banksia Government Awards in 2019 for the Mary Cairncross BioBlitz.

“Our strategy exemplifies our region’s forward thinking and real actions to plan for and manage growth as we respond to the impacts of a changing climate.”

Key objectives of the ELS include:

• maintaining and nurturing the natural environment;
• effectively managing and catering for population growth;
• building resilience against the potential impacts of climate change;
• creating livable spaces and places to live, work and play;
• driving renewable energy, efficiency and technical know-how;
• living up to the expectations of future generations.
   

“What our ELS also seeks to do is take advantage of opportunities today, while looking ahead to 2041 and beyond, to create a legacy that will benefit our community for many years. It focuses on preserving and enhancing the Sunshine Coast’s natural environment and enabling a good quality of life for all residents in an accessible and well-connected built environment,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Our ELS has already played an important role in guiding the achievement of a number of significant outcomes for our community. These include launching our Australian-first Blue Heart partnership to protect and manage the most critical areas of the Maroochy River floodplain; progressing a UNESCO Biosphere nomination to recognise our region’s sustainability internationally; developing a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy to proactively manage emerging risks; and expanding our green spaces by securing more land for conservation and recreation, just to name a few.

The ELS supports the council’s vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region and strongly aligns with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are key criteria in judging the Banksia Sustainability Awards.

“By planning ahead, understanding the emerging risks and making sustainable choices at the right time, our region can look forward to a healthy, resilient and sustainable future.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Jenifoto