Redlands site chosen for carbon offset tree planting trial

28th May 2009

Council-owned land in Victoria Point has been chosen as one of the key sites to trial the south-east Queensland (SEQ) trial carbon offset project.

It’s part of Redland City Council’s broader climate change strategy, through which the organisation is looking to minimise its carbon footprint and encourage the community to do the same.

The carbon offset trial – initiated by the Council of Mayors’ (SEQ) Regional Carbon Sink Taskforce – will help develop a framework under which all south-east Queensland councils can voluntarily offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

Council this week endorsed the site and Council’s participation in the project, which will involve restoration of the ecologically significant site in Bunker Rd.

Council has identified a number of sites within the city as being suitable under the regional carbon sink criteria (including the potential for a forest to be created with a height of at least 2m). The Victoria Point site will now be the first.

Redlands Mayor, and chair of the South East Queensland Regional Carbon Sink Taskforce, Melva Hobson, said she was excited about the initiative taking shape and could see the benefits of councils being involved.

“It’s important that we look to reduce our ‘footprint’’ on the planet. Redlands residents and businesses are doing such a great job in protecting and valuing our precious resources but there is always more that can be done,” Cr Hobson said.

“You only have to travel to other countries to truly appreciate the quality of the air we breathe in the Redlands, and this is something we need to preserve and improve for future generations.

“We have a chance to do that now with carbon off-set planting, and it’s important for us as a council to lead the way.”

The land chosen for the trial forms part of Eprapah Creek corridor , which has significant biodiversity values including O rnate sunfish, koalas, tusked frog, grey goshawk and numerous migratory birds , as well as locally and regionally significant vegetation along the length of the creek.

The SEQ carbon offset tree planting trial will be formally launched in the Redlands next month by the Council of Mayors (SEQ).

Other initiatives under Council’s climate change strategy include providing residents access to free Power-Mate hand-held electricity meters (to find out the running cost of an appliance and how much energy they use on stand by ), and reducing energy demands at Council facilities.

Council also encourages the community to participate in the state government’s Climate Smart initiative (www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au). This program provides advice on climate smart living.