Regional Programs
A total of $138.1 million has been committed to a series of regional water quality programs that will directly reduce nitrogen, sediment and pesticide loads from priority Reef catchments. These programs will focus on proven, on-ground measures for improving water quality, including through catchment restoration and improved land management practices.
#Priorities for investment
The priority catchments under the 10 regional programs, as well as the level of investment, were selected based on the priorities set out in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, together with a detailed technical assessment prepared by Alluvium Consulting to determine where investments would have the greatest impact. More information on the prioritisation process is available below in the Alluvium 2019 Investment Pathways Report.
#End of Partnership targets
Reduction of 456 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) entering the Reef
Reduction of 462 kilotonnes of fine sediments entering the Reef
Reduction of 250 kilograms of pesticides entering the Reef
#Implementing the programs
Target pollution load reductions have been set for each catchment, and regional programs and associated projects are being implemented to achieve these targets and deliver better water quality for the Reef. Projects being funded under the regional program primarily involve:
- Practice change: such working with farmers and graziers to improve management practices related to stock management, nutrients, pesticides, and irrigation. These projects aim to reduce pollution runoff while improving farm productivity and profitability
- Landscape remediation: this includes restoring gullies and streambanks, such as through earthworks and revegetation, to reduce erosion and the amount of fine sediment impacting the Reef.
However, all options for improving water quality are being considered, provided they can be shown to be effective and efficient.
Projects are being selected through open, competitive processes, based on their cost-effectiveness, to ensure the programs achieve the greatest water quality improvement with the available funding.
For each regional program, the deliver model has been tailored to the local situation. For a number of the programs, a regional program manager and/or regional partnership coordinator has been appointed to oversee implementation and maximise the value of the program. These roles are typically filled by local organisations, with strong regional networks and the capacity to bring partners together while also monitoring progress on the ground.
#Tracking progress to targets
All projects are required to report progress to the Paddock to Reef integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program. This will provide transparency and accountability on how projects, and the programs as a whole, are performing.
#Active programs
Regional water quality programs with projects currently underway.
Upper Herbert Water Quality Program
Preventing 4,082 tonnes of fine sediments entering the Reef's waters each year
Lower Herbert Water Quality Program
Preventing 140 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from entering the Reef each year.
Upper and East Burdekin Water Quality Program
Preventing 49,000 tonnes of fine sediment from entering the Reef's waters each year
Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program
Preventing 48 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and 138,276 Risk Units (RU) of pesticides from entering the Reef's waters every year
Bowen, Broken, Bogie Water Quality Program
Preventing 105,100 tonnes of fine sediment entering the Reef every year.
Mackay-Whitsunday Water Quality Program
Preventing at least 26 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and 215 kilograms of pesticides from entering the Reef’s waters every year.
Fitzroy Water Quality Program
Preventing 50,000 tonnes of fine sediment from the Fitzroy River basin from entering the Reef’s waters every year.
Mary River Water Quality Program
Reducing the amount of fine sediment from the Mary River that enters the Reef by 26,000 tonnes per year.
Mulgrave-Russell Regional Water Quality Program
Preventing 72 tonnes of DIN from entering the Reef’s waters every year.
Tully Johnstone Regional Water Quality Program
Preventing 170 tonnes of DIN from entering the Reef’s waters every year.
#Learnings and Recommendations
Activities such as improved farming practices, reduced fertiliser use, uptake of new technology, landscape remediation and improved land management practices were implemented to achieve an enduring reduction in the long-term end-of-catchment pollutant loads exported to the Great Barrier Reef.
To ensure that program outcomes reported were achieved with this significant investment, independent technical advisors with appropriate skills and experience were engaged to review the extent and quality of on-ground works undertaken by delivery partners through the Reef Trust Partnership (RTP) between the Australian Government and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Learnings and recommendations were developed as a result and are available in the following reports:
