The sustainability projects defining Sunshine Coast’s future

Forward-thinking initiatives working towards zero-net emissions, reduced waste, new parks, cooler households and more will help protect and enhance our precious natural environment and keep the Sunshine Coast an incredible place to live.

Sunshine Coast Council has released the sixth annual report for the Environment and Liveability Strategy, recognising just some of the achievements delivered in 2022/23.

Mayor Mark Jamieson highlighted Council’s Organisational Zero-Net Emissions Plan adopted in July last year as one such achievement, providing a roadmap on how Council plans to meet its target to be a zero-net emissions organisation by 2041. 

“This plan is a major component of our climate change response for the Sunshine Coast, alongside measures to proactively plan for the expected impacts of climate change,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Council is working on many levels to preserve and protect our environment and Sunshine Coast way of life, from investigating how urban forests can help cool our region, to delivering open spaces for our community including the new Sippy Downs Forest Park.

“We’re taking these steps to continue to ensure a healthy environment and liveable Sunshine Coast as our region grows.”

Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Peter Cox said through Council’s management of waste and electricity, it had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 per cent compared to the previous financial year.

“That’s 45,861 less tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere,” Cr Cox said.

“This is a strong start for Council’s emissions reduction journey.”

The largest contributing factor was the expansion of landfill gas infrastructure and a reduction in waste quantities to landfill, resulting in an overall reduction of waste related emissions by more than 20 per cent.

Council is also now able to reflect the purchase of green energy in its own carbon footprint for a 40 per cent reduction in electricity emissions, after one of its energy providers was formally verified as providing zero emissions electricity.

Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said collaboration with the community and other partners was key to continuing success in implementing the Strategy.

“This includes partnership projects such as the research with UniSC on ways to reduce urban heat with Cool Urban Forests, and it’s exciting to see the community engaging with early projects implementing the Sunshine Coast Biosphere such as the Kids in Action BiospHEROES program and Biosphere Photography Showcase,” Cr Suarez said.

“We are all part of the Biosphere, and it is wonderful to see our community involved.

“Our community groups and residents also contributed their views as we worked to refresh our Environment and Liveability Strategy, ensuring new information was incorporated and our strategic directions remain strong as we continue to respond to the region’s emerging challenges and opportunities.”

ACHIEVEMENTS SNAPSHOT: 2022/23

• Organisational Zero-Net Emissions Plan
• Expansion of garden organics bin service
• New and upgraded parks including Sippy Downs Forest Park
• Cool Homes for the Sunshine Coast design guide
• Continued community partnerships including School Beach Clean Up, Kids in Action program, National Tree Day and more
• Research including Ecosystem Function Mapping, living sea wall, loggerhead turtle migrations and Cool Urban Forests to guide decision-making
• Official opening of the Sunshine Coast City Hall, designed with sustainability at its core
• Creating the Regional Climate Action Roadmap
• Continued management of invasive plants and animals
• Conducting the Living on the Sunshine Coast survey
• Establishing the Regional Erosion and Sediment, Education and Trial (RESET) site to educate industries for healthier waterways

For more, find the Environment and Liveability Strategy Annual Report on Council’s Environment and Liveability Strategy website.