Our Environment

The natural environment supports everyday life in ways we often don’t see. Scenic Rim landscapes - ranging from fertile farmland and waterways to forests and national parks - provide essential “ecosystem services.” These include the provision of fresh water, productive soils, clean air, and natural protection from floods and erosion, while also supporting tourism, recreation, and community wellbeing.

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Why it matters 

If these ecosystems are degraded or lost, the services they provide begin to break down resulting in poorer water quality, increased flood and erosion risks, loss of biodiversity, and reduced resilience to climate change. Protecting the Scenic Rim’s environment helps safeguard these benefits for our community, economy, and future generations.

These natural landscapes are also part of Australia’s unique natural history and identity. Protecting and restoring the remaining regional ecosystems - those that existed prior to extensive clearing and development - is essential to preserving this legacy and maintaining the ecological integrity of the Scenic Rim. 

Healthy ecosystems also support recreation and tourism, providing opportunities for walking, nature-based experiences, and enjoyment of the region’s scenic landscapes. These experiences contribute to community wellbeing and are an important part of the Scenic Rim’s local economy. 

Maintaining ecosystem services and environmental values is supported by the conservation of biodiversity, effective biosecurity management, restoration of degraded lands and waterways, and enhanced climate resilience. 

Our role 

At Scenic Rim Regional Council, our Environmental Planning and Biodiversity Team strengthens environmental health and resilience by: 

  • Protecting and enhancing biodiversity across natural areas, farmland, peri-urban and urban areas

  • Managing biosecurity risks by addressing invasive plants, pests, and diseases, that threaten native ecosystems and agricultural productivity and supporting the community to respond effectively

  • Supporting landholders through environmental initiatives that help conserve the environment and restore waterways and riparian lands

  • Improving the climate resilience of natural systems through all of the above

Building the region’s climate resilience [LINK] also involves improving Council’s environmental performance by reducing its carbon footprint, supporting the community and local businesses to adopt sustainable practices and reduce emissions, and enabling the region to withstand and recover from the impacts of a changing climate.  

Together, these actions help protect the Scenic Rim’s natural assets and ensure a healthy, resilient environment for current and future generations. 

 

 

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