Conservation and protection

Gold Coast City has a unique natural environment that we need to conserve and protect.

With 57 kilometres of beaches, nine times more waterways than Venice and over half of the city covered in bushland, we are fortunate to have large areas of natural environment to look after.

We also have a large urban area and rapidly growing population and Council needs your help to manage the many environmental impacts of urbanisation.

In this section...

Find out about:

• Environmental strategies, programs and reports
  From its Planning Scheme to its Nature Conservation Strategy and plans to manage our waterways, beaches and waste, Council has long term strategies to conserve and protect our environment.
   
• Plants and animals
  Discover our biodiversity and wildlife, find out about pests and weeds, and learn about Council's land acquisitions and bushland management programs to preserve key natural areas as well as vegetation protection regulations for trees across the city. Property owners can play their part through Voluntary Conservation Agreements and the Land for Wildlife program.
   
• Beaches, waterways and wetlands
  Find out what Council is doing to protect our coastline from storms and flooding and a range of catchment management initiatives to preserve our healthy waterways. Council has regulations aimed at preventing pollution and needs your help to quickly respond to incidents. Get involved in catchment management and beachcare and learn how to be stormwater responsible and how to be a responsible boatie.
   
• Waste and recycling
  Council has long term plans to manage the city's solid and liquid waste and encourages everyone to reduce, re-use and recycle. Council manages commercial waste and promotes kerbside recycling, composting and worm warming and recycling transfer stations for residents.
   
• Disaster management
  Council makes preparations for bushfires and flooding and needs your help to ensure the community can cope in natural disasters.
   

Related links

•  Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland Government) - www.epa.qld.gov.au
•  Natural Resource Management - www.nrm.gov.au
•   Australian Natural Resources Atlas (Australian Government) - http://audit.deh.gov.au
•  Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland - www.wildlife.org.au
•  Australian Conservation Association - www.acfonline.org.au