Reef Guardian Council
Our programs
Reef Guardian Councils is a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority stewardship program that supports participating councils to play an active role in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is one of nineteen councils involved in the program. Collectively we cover over 300,000 square kilometres of coastal catchments and a population of almost 1 million people, stretching from Cooktown in the north to Bundaberg in the south.
Reef Guardian Action Plan
As a Reef Guardian Council, Council developed the 2020-2024 Reef Guardian Action Plan which outlines actions in response to key threats to the Reef. This includes actions to manage greenhouse gas emissions, land-based run off, coastal development, fishing and marine debris.
Clean Creeks Progran
Clean Creeks is a multi-year initiative to reduce the amount of litter entering the reef lagoon from Cairns’ urban and peri-urban waterways through clean-ups of litter hotspots, riparian restoration and public education on litter impacts. The program is funded by the Reef Authority's Reef Guardian Councils program.
Clean Up Cairns
Let's protect the Reef from plastic pollution! Join a community clean-up in a suburb near you this September.
Workplace giving
Workplace giving is a program that directs employee donations to a nominated charity, with the employer matching the donation dollar for dollar. As an organisation with a strong connection to the Reef, Council’s workplace giving program supports the rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles by raising more than $10,000 a year for the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Nature-based Learning Grant
This annual grant offers Cairns schools up to $2000 to assist with student excursions to the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics Rainforest and other environmentally focused experiences.
Last Updated: 21 August 2024
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