A Minute With The Mayor Ry Collins

On Thursday, I had the privilege of welcoming guests to our Shute Harbour Marine Terminal to mark World Environment Day—a powerful reminder of why we must protect what makes our region so special.

As the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, our Whitsundays is one of the most ecologically significant places in the world. From our reef to our rainforest, we’re not just caretakers of the environment—we’re leaders in sustainable tourism.

Thursday’s event brought together environmental leaders, tourism operators, and community changemakers to focus not just on ideas, but on action.

A highlight was celebrating the launch of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Whitsunday Coast Airport—a major milestone in our region’s sustainability journey.

We were honoured to have Fiona Walmsley, General Manager of Sustainability, in attendance from Virgin Australia, and she shared their commitment to greener skies.

The adoption of SAF aligns perfectly with our region’s legacy of biodiversity protection and low-impact tourism. But none of it would be possible without strong partnerships—between Council, industry, and the operators who understand that our economic and environmental futures are intertwined.

Whether it’s sustainable aviation, reef-safe tourism, or grassroots green initiatives, we are united by the belief that tourism can and must be a force for good.

Thanks to QTIC for choosing the Whitsundays to host the event, our industry partners for their continued leadership, and every single person who came to listen, to share, and to act.

Together, we are creating a more resilient, sustainable Whitsundays—because our environment deserves nothing less.

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