CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ENVIROPLAN

What is Enviroplan?

In 2021 Ipswich City celebrated 25 years of the Enviroplan program. Ever since the seeds of Ipswich Enviroplan were planted in 1996 by Ipswich City Council, the community and environment have been reaping the rewards. Enviroplan was created as a proactive measure to preserve our key conservation areas ahead of Ipswich’s population boom. This forward-thinking initiative was a leading concept and continues to stand the test of time. Ipswich City Council now manages more than 6700 hectares of conservation estates and reserves, and supports community conservation efforts through the Ipswich Enviroplan Program.

Funding for this important environmental and conservation initiative has been made possible by a levy paid by ratepayers within the Ipswich Local Government Area. The money has been put to good use and the community is seeing tangible benefits on public, private, urban and rural land.

By committing to a plan, council and the community have been able to take positive action on a number of fronts to deliver specific environmental benefits for current and future generations.

There are four pillars that form the basis for successful nature conservation within Ipswich: 

Planning: delivery of city-wide conservation planning, management and research activities that include ecological studies, mapping and ecosystem recovery development.

Acquisition: identification and prioritisation of valuable conservation areas which council can consider for voluntary purchase and consolidation within estates and reserves.

Management: ensuring land secured under Enviroplan is carefully managed for conservation and nature recreation values such walking trails and habitat restoration.

Partnerships: recognising and supporting the critical role of the community and landholders in conservation and environmental management.

These four pillars combined help support the natural lifestyle, liveability and livelihoods of the region.

To read more about the program please see Enviroplan Ipswich City Council