Report - SEQ Regional Climate Resilient Alliance

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                 9 MAY 2023


platform for regional solutions, knowledge sharing and economies of scale and helps avoid
duplication of effort across different local governments that are facing similar challenges.

There are already various collaborations underway between SEQ council's including the successful
Sunshine Coast and Noosa Regional Climate Action Roadmap project which has attracted $1.6
million in funding to date to advance climate resilience. The SEQCRA will formalise a regional
partnership on climate change for the broader region and provide a framework for applying for large
pools of funding to work collaboratively on priority projects.

Purpose
The purpose of establishing the alliance is to enhance the capacity of local governments to
accelerate emissions reduction and respond to climate risks through collaborative projects,
knowledge sharing and advocacy work at a regional scale. Climate change is already bringing more
frequent and extreme impacts to our region including storms, flooding, sea level rise, storm surge,
coastal erosion, droughts, heatwaves and fires. It is not a problem of the future, the impacts are here
and affect us now. Regional and collaborative solutions to tackle these risks and to address rapid
emissions reduction are vital.

Proposed Partnership Model
The proposed model is based on established climate alliances already operating in Australia. There
are eight climate alliances in Victoria, one in Far North Queensland, two in Western Australia and
one in Tasmania. All these climate alliances represent their regions via a formal agreement to work
collaboratively. They are all membership-based partnerships, coordinated by a shared resource who
is funded by membership fees, with a simple members-based governance structure, supported by
regional networks (ie. CoMSEQ, LGAQ). Members develop strategic plans to deliver collaborative
projects. For more information refer to Attachment 1 - Fact Sheet.

The proposed structure of SEQCRA will be an un-incorporated, membership-based partnership
formalised by an MoU agreement. It will have tiered membership fees, banded according to
population. Alliance governance will have two tiers: an Executive Steering Committee (Directors)
and a Coordination Committee (Sustainability Officers). All works will be supported by an Alliance
Coordinator, a host organisation and auspice – all yet to be determined.

Membership to SEQCRA involves:
   •   A signed MOU
   •   A commitment of 3 years membership
   •   Annual Fees
   •   Allocating one representative to Executive Steering Committee (meets quarterly)
   •   Allocating one representative to the Coordination Committee (meets monthly)
Interested SEQ members
SEQCRA relies on members to fund and establish the climate alliance. The following SEQ councils
are interested in becoming members. Their representative officers have been collaboratively
involved in the establishment process to date and are currently seeking approval for membership
from their respective councils.

   1. Brisbane City Council
   2. Ipswich City Council
   3. Lockyer Valley Regional Council
   4. Logan City Council
   5. Moreton Bay Regional Council