Parks and open green spaces are safe, connected and accessible for all members of the community

What we will do to achieve this

Establish a network of interconnected greenways, parklands and walkable neighbourhoods across the city that encourage people of all ages and abilities to use the open space for recreation and environmentally friendly modes of travel such as walking and cycling

Increase the community’s visitation and participation in the city’s parks and gardens by maintaining and enhancing standards and facilities

Develop a world-class recreational parkland (Greenheart precinct) in the heart of the city in collaboration with state and federal partners

Establish a network of major foreshore parklands along the coastline and Broadwater to increase community recreational space and equitable access for all

Transform the city through the sustainable management of Council’s natural parkland areas and through an extensive greening and street planting program

Performance area we will evaluate

Community satisfaction with the accessibility, condition and facilities in our parks and open spaces

Biodiversity is protected

What we will do to achieve this

Continue to plan for the conservation of the city’s natural environment

Acquire, manage and rehabilitate land as part of our conservation estate

Support the community to manage private land through our nature conservation partnerships programs

Increase external partnerships to conserve the city’s biodiversity and protect wildlife and vegetation on private and public land

Ensure nature conservation impacts are considered as part of city decision-making

Encourage community appreciation of and participation in the protection of the natural environment through education and awareness-raising activity

Performance area we will evaluate

The conservation of our natural assets through acquisition of land, re-vegetation programs, community voluntary participation and education activities 

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Wildlife corridors are well managed and connected

What we will do to achieve this

Consolidate critical wildlife corridors by retaining existing vegetation and restoring cleared areas

Retain and restore the city’s waterway corridors and their unique flora and fauna

Plan and manage the city’s conservation network to protect the city’s biodiversity and help mitigate the risks of climate change

Performance area we will evaluate

The provision of flora and fauna corridors (which protect our native wildlife and vegetation), through projects, community engagement, care groups and government partnerships

The city’s coastline, beaches and oceans are protected to sustain their amenity and biodiversity

What we will do to achieve this

Support ecological systems in coastal, estuarine and marine environments to sustain biodiversity

Ensure that beaches have sustainable native vegetation on sand dunes

Preserve the quality of the beaches, maintaining pristine water, waves and sand

Ensure that beaches, marine and estuarine ecosystems can adapt to the impact of climate change

Prepare and protect coastal beaches from the impact of storm activity

Maintain and enhance the amenity, accessibility and quality of our beaches and ocean for leisure purposes

Protect the coastline and beaches from the adverse impact of urban development 

Performance area we will evaluate

The protection of our coastline, beaches and ocean, through dunal vegetation care, activities improving resilience to storm surge and litter removal

Water and waterways across the city are
protected and enhanced

What we will do to achieve this

Maintain healthy catchments, waterways, lakes and wetlands in partnership with the community and State water interests

Maintain and restore healthy waterways and waterway corridors (riparian) from the hinterland to the ocean to improve water quality, aquatic health and fish passage

Manage waterways to provide access to safe water-based recreation

Raise community awareness of the value of waterways as a habitat for flora and fauna, including threatened species and communities

Improve waterway resilience to increase recovery potential from the impact of floods and storm surges

Work towards reducing the impact of stormwater and other related pollution to protect our waterways

Performance area we will evaluate

The protection of our water quality and waterways, through vegetation care, litter and weed removal

We manage resources and waste responsibly for
the benefit of future generations

What we will do to achieve this

Promote resource conservation and implement sustainable waste management practices across Gold Coast City

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through continuous improvements to the management of waste

Migrate waste management practices towards waste reuse, diversion of waste from landfills and alternative waste technologies

Develop reuse opportunities for different types of waste to maximise the usage of each resource and support the conservation of the environment

Optimise waste management practices by partnering with local businesses and other local government organisations

Performance area we will evaluate

Waste management practices which ensure a reduced amount of waste to landfill through recycling programs, segregation and reuse of waste and community education activities

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) - Council is committed to the principles of sustainable development (triple bottom line) which are represented by the following symbols.

Environment - Social - Economic -

What we will do to achieve this - These actions need to be undertaken to meet the desired outcome.

Performance area we will evaluate - Each performance area will be supported by a series of specific performance measures.

A city loved for its green, gold and blue

Protecting and enhancing the natural environment, open spaces, beaches and waterways

In 2014 we will have a city where...

• parks and open green spaces are connected, safe and accessible for all members of the community
• biodiversity is protected
• wildlife corridors are well managed and connected
• the city’s beaches and coastline are protected to sustain their amenity and biodiversity
• water and waterways across the city are protected and enhanced
• we manage resources and waste responsibly for the benefit of future generations

Our targets for 2014 will include progress towards:

• moving the city towards the goal of 50% of native vegetation cover across the city’s land area by 2020 (no net loss)
• consistently achieving the highest level (i.e. “A” grading on the Environmental Health Monitoring Program) on city waterway report cards for all natural and constructed waterways

Read more about our Bold Future vision