Why does World Environment Day matter?
On 5 June 2026, Council held it’s 2nd Annual World Environment Day gathering of staff, hosting a panel discussion with distinguished guests to discuss practical ways our teams has embed climate action into sustainable “business-as-usual” activity.
Pictured (L-R): Clinton Brewer, Nick Barter, Nerida Bradley, Sara Hicks
We welcomed as panellists;
Nerida Bradley – Managing Director of The Limosa Centre for Nature and the Economy
Nick Barter – Professor of Management at Griffith University
Sara Hicks – Campaign Coordinator at Gecko Environment Council
Clinton Brewer from Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation
As Chair of the Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage and Resilience committee, I was asked to offer a few remarks, and MC the panel chat. Here’s my address;
The establishment of a dedicated Environment department at Council was a big change that I was really proud of, and when, last year, Alex Graham proposed an event to acknowledge World Environment Day I was pleased. I was equally pleased when Brett Brogan committed to continue the initiative.
Frankly, I was also concerned about the competitive tension with the donut people, because today is also National Donut Day, but today’s turnout is a testament to your commitment to the environment instead of donuts, and for that I’m grateful.
My message to you today is this;
Your work matters.
Whether you are involved in our next City Plan, or strategically assessing properties under our acquisition program, or whether you are eradicating and controlling weed and animal pests in the city, every contribution matters.
Lately I’ve been particularly proud of emailing residents Our Natural City Story Map, every time I get one of those emails about the council apparently “doing nothing” for the environment. It’s a tragic perception, and one I’m keen to help in eradicating (along with the weed and animal pests).
We reshape that perception that by not just completing the work we’re assigned to do, but also by remembering and communicating the work that contributes to the objective. Many of you get about your work with very little fanfare, expecting little credit for its importance, but projects like the Natural City Story Map help, and by sharing it we start the shift those perceptions about the city’s significant commitment to environmental action. There are other stories too, that might not fit the framework of the story map, and I want to know those stories, so please share them upline with your managers and teams, or contact me directly, when something good is happening we need to talk about.
I hope today’s panel discussion will stimulate some ideas for you, reinforcing your strong commitment to your important work, or help you pivot or innovate to come up with a better way to do something in our big organisation.
Thanks for showing World Environment Day matters by showing up today, and I can’t wait to see the wins we have in store for the coming year.
Clinton Brewer and Cr Glenn Tozer