A group of secondary students have helped Gold Coast City Council to polish its annual report card at a sustainability ‘test’ in August. Council hosted a Student Sustainability Forum, giving a keen group of secondary school students the chance to contribute ideas on how to make the City more ecologically, economically and socially sustainable.
Almost 40 students and teachers from seven private and State secondary schools used the workshop style forum to provide feedback on Council’s annual Our Living City report. This report establishes goals and measures the City’s progress across 21 target areas, from water quality to housing choice.
Council staff presented the report and students provided their own definitions of success for each target area. Definitions were then summarised and discussed, providing Council staff with a picture of the students’ preferred future for the City. This feedback will be used to guide development of future Our Living City reports, which benchmark Council’s progress towards greater sustainability.
Groups of students and one teacher from each school participated in the forum. Gold Coast Mayor, Councillor Ron Clarke, welcomed the involvement of the students and their teachers.
“These young people will inherit this City and it is tremendous to see them taking a keen interest in sustainability,” he said. “Their contribution will help us decide if the City is on the right track with use of its assets and resources and could well make all the difference to our future.”
Council hopes to make the forum an annual event, providing fresh ideas and input into this reporting process.
“The event will also raise awareness of sustainability issues among our future business, government and community leaders,” he said.
To view the Our Living City report visit Council’s website at www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?PID=2267
