"We need to take action before it's too late." 

That was the message that cut through loud and clear from the students who attended a screening of Future Council, hosted by NQCC and Parents for Climate at St Joseph's Catholic School in Mundingburra.

We all know that climate change is making Townsville's heatwaves worse - longer, hotter and more frequent than ever before. So, what can we do about it? How will our community adapt to ensure that no one is left behind in these silent natural disasters? We joined forces with Sweltering Cities, Once Upon Tomorrow and the Queensland Community Alliance to find out.

Where and what are the top priorities for environmental protection and restoration in our region? How can we support a local renewable energy transition while protecting and enhancing our environmental values?

Those are the questions we want to answer - and we need your help!

For a week in the middle of March, NQCC was represented at the Ministerial Environment Roundtable (MERT) and Queensland Environment Roundtable (QERT), hosted by Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) in Meanjin Brisbane.

Phil Gibson was one of many Townsville locals who has enjoyed visiting the Port Access Nature Reserve - a beautiful bushy area bounded by creeks and mangroves on the south side of Townsville. When he found it heavily littered with all manner of illegally dumped waste, he knew he had to do something to restore that special place.

In 2020, Phil's Bush Cleanup was born, and so began the arduous (but ultimately worthwhile) process of lining up paperwork to gain permission to carry out voluntary work on the site, owned by the Qld Department of Environment and Science. He approached NQCC, who, as an incorporated association with the appropriate insurance, could support his application to work on government-owned land. We jumped at the chance to collaborate and have been thrilled with what we've been able to support Phil to achieve!