A Minute With The Mayor

I’m excited that the Whitsundays will be hosting the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s 2025 World Environment Day event right here at Council’s beautiful Shute Harbour Marine Terminal.

With the breathtaking Whitsundays as our backdrop, the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef and future home of Olympic sailing for the Brisbane 2032 Games there’s no better place to talk about the future of sustainable tourism and environmental leadership.

On June 5, we’ll welcome tourism leaders, eco-innovators, and decision-makers from across Queensland to explore how we can continue to grow our industry while protecting the natural environment that makes our region so special.

This event is not only a celebration of progress, it’s an important moment to reflect on the role local governments play in protecting the places we call home.

Reef councils, including Whitsunday Regional Council, are the single largest contributor to Great Barrier Reef conservation investing more than $228 million each year in direct environmental activities.

That’s an extraordinary commitment at the local level but it’s one we take seriously. Queensland is the most biologically diverse state in Australia, and it’s our job to protect the iconic species and landscapes we’re so lucky to live alongside.

Through initiatives like Council’s Healthy Heart Project, we’ve helped tourism operators better understand their carbon footprints and act on sustainability.

We’ve also celebrated the launch of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Whitsunday Coast Airport, a major milestone, and a perfect example of innovation in action.

But we want to do more. Reef councils are ready to consolidate and accelerate the progress we’ve made, with the right support.

That’s why we’re calling on state and federal governments to continue backing locally-led environmental solutions, and to recognise the critical role councils play in protecting our natural assets, not just for today, but for generations to come.

World Environment Day is a chance to come together, share what’s working, and plan for what’s next. I’m excited for the conversations ahead and even more excited about what we can achieve, together, right here in the Whitsundays.

‍