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Aligned with the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 Life Below Water, our commitment to ensuring the preservation of sustainable water systems is demonstrated through involvement in local, national and global collaborations, projects and initiatives that drive change, better outcomes and lead to a more sustainable future.
Our Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has been established to work with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments.
Our goal is to undertake research that works with nature to build an economically and environmentally sustainable future to enrich our coastal communities. To achieve this, CMERC is taking a holistic approach that recognises the place of the communities and industries that live and work along our coastlines. This means our work entails far more than just monitoring the condition of our environments – CMERC is undertaking proactive applied research from coastal catchments to sea to develop practical solutions to the challenges facing coastal and marine ecosystems.
Some of the recent news stories that align with SDG14 Life Below Water:
Our dedicated and passionate researchers that specialise is coastal marine ecosystems continue to build knowledge and impact through their work, and contribute to global knowledge by presenting the outcomes and findings to national and international audiences at conferences and symposiums. Highlights from 2024 include:
The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has built on existing research partnerships at various levels. The below shows a sample of these partnerships:
Local
State
National
First Nations
Global
The Drain Buddies project, led by Dr Angela Capper at our Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), will modify and install microplastic traps across Rockhampton and Livingstone shires, with monitoring to determine where the littering is occurring.
CQUniversity is a Platinum Business Supporter of Clean Up Australia Day with events held across our campuses. Each year our staff and students step up and collect up to one ton of rubbish at simultaneous Clean Up Australia Day events across all mainland states. The 13 campus locations that participate in the annual event include Adelaide, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay Ooralea and City, Melbourne, Noosa, Perth, Rockhampton, Sydney, and Townsville.
This initiative partners with Plastic Free CQ and encourages all staff and students to use reusable cups when purchasing coffee on campus in a step towards a plastic-free future. The on-campus café at Rockhampton North 'Cups and Muffs' offers discounts to customers who bring their own reusable cups and also offers a cup library to borrow and return.
The Ditch the Disposables campaign is an ongoing initiative that continues to educate staff and students throughout our national footprint about the harmful effects of single-use plastic and encourages them to ultimately ‘ditch the disposables’ because small changes will have a big impact. The University has embarked on a long-term sustainability journey focusing on key areas with the greatest impact demonstrating its commitment to the environment.
As outlined in the Procurement and Policy and Procedure, we are committed to protecting the environment and doing business with ethical and sustainably responsible suppliers during all stages of the procurement process. Referring to Clause 4.6 under the Sustainable, Social and Indigenous-focused procurement, the policy outlines the key environmental issues that need to be considered including waste management, water use and impacts on natural habitats. Buyers must plan, identify, and integrate the practice of sustainability into the procurement of goods and/or services. Preference should be given to environmentally preferable goods and services that have a lower impact on the environment over the life cycle of the good or service, when compared with competing goods or services serving the same purpose.
Sustainability remains a key priority as we look to an increasingly complex future. Our Sustainability Annual Report provides an open account of our sustainability performance. It also demonstrates our support, commitment, and progress against the principles of the United Nations Global Development Goals.
Part of our Sustainability goals revolve around the efficient use of water and minimising any wastage as one of our most precious resources.
Framework target | 2024 performance |
|---|---|
SHORT TERM GOAL: Establish a baseline usage of water consumption for the University. | Water consumption is continued to be tracked via TEFMA Reporting and continuous water monitoring devices. |
SHORT TERM GOAL: Implement 5‐star water efficiency rated equipment to all new campus buildings and upgrade of existing building stock to reduce water demand. | A cooling tower was decommissioned which resulted in water consumption savings at the Rockhampton North Campus. Efficiency rated equipment has been incorporated into the design manual for new buildings. Campus operating repairs are in line with the new design manual standards and are encouraged. |
SHORT TERM GOAL: Actively check and adjust water irrigation systems to minimise wasted water. | Directorate of Facilities Management (DFM) grounds crew currently carry out this service through annual inspections. Data capture through our water meters further advise DFM of leaks or unexpected over consumption. |
LONG TERM GOAL: Offset the usage of council supplied potable water by devising water conserving landscapes and buildings. | Water storage capacity was increased at the Gladstone campus. Installation of water tanks with a total capacity of 200,00L for the Rockhampton North Campus. |
LONG TERM GOAL: Offset the usage of council supplied potable water by devising water conserving landscapes and buildings. | New buildings are designed to meet the requirements for 5 star green star ratings which includes water saving and harvesting ideas. Efficiency rated equipment has been incorporated into the design manual for new buildings. Campus operating repairs are in line with the new design manual standards and are encouraged. |
LONG TERM GOAL: Increase the capture of rainwater through various techniques like rainwater tanks. | Water storage capacity was increased at the Gladstone campus. Installation of water tanks with a total capacity of 200,00L for the Rockhampton North Campus. |
KPI: Capture water consumption through annual reports supplied via benchmarking activities with the Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association (TEFMA). | Water consumption reported via TEFMA. |
KPI: Increased rainwater tank capacity. | Water storage capacity was increased at the Gladstone campus. Installation of water tanks with a total capacity of 200,00L for the Rockhampton North Campus. |
Our Sustainability Framework outlines the short and long term goals to achieve our Sustainability Goals. These are broken into nine elements with the following elements relating to SDG 14 Life Below Water:
In 2019, the Fitzroy Basin Association commissioned a review of the previously written Fitzroy Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP:2015) reports ensuring the plan utilises the best available science and data. The update ensures the Fitzroy Region’s project management continues to maximise the public benefits of investment and maximise the reduction of both sediment and nutrient runoff to the Reef.
The WQIP:2015 shows how we can improve regional water quality to protect our waterways and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef. WQIP:2015 sets out the priorities for improving water quality, including describing the coastal and marine ecosystems and species that are at risk from poor water quality; identifying catchment ‘hot spots’ of soil erosion and nutrient run-off that are the source of water quality problems; understanding how land management practices and habitat restoration can reduce the risk of water quality problems; and finding the most cost-effective ways to reduce water quality risks.
Our university was a Delivery Partner/Consultant in the following studies for the WQIP.
Our University is also an accredited institution under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulation 1983. All research undertaken by our researchers in the Great Barrier Reef must be approved by the University.
Our accreditation allows limited impact research (extractive and non-extractive) to be undertaken by researchers affiliated with the University, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulation 1983, our Codes of Conduct and any Environmental Management Plan for the Scientific Research Zone around research stations. The accreditation removes the need for researchers to obtain a research permit from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority if they are conducting limited impact research.
Applicants must familiarise themselves with the Memorandum of Understanding, the University's Code of Conduct for Research in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the University's Code of Conduct for Research, the tourism/recreation/best-environmental practice and Responsible Reef Practices. Authorisation must be sought from the Vice-President, Research BEFORE the project commences.
The Contractor Occupational Health and Safety Management Procedure outlines the determinants all individuals must take to minimise environmental harm associated with all activities they undertake including the potential pollution actions may incur (Refer Clause 3.8). This outlines that all individuals must take reasonable steps to minimise environmental harm associated with all activities they undertake. To determine what measures should be taken, a person should consider:
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
ABN: 39 181 103 288
RTO Code: 40939
CRICOS: 00219C
TEQSA: PRV12073
