New strategy to prioritise reef water quality research

Published Thursday, 14 May, 2015 at 02:51 PM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

The Queensland Government has outlined its latest research and investment priorities to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef from agricultural land use. 

Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Dr Steven Miles released his department’s Reef Water Quality Research, Development and Innovation Strategy in Townsville today. 

Dr Miles said the four-year strategy reflected the Queensland Government’s continuing support for research to deliver strong evidence-based actions. 

“The strategy aligns with the interests and priorities identified by industry and researchers,” Dr Miles said.

“It will help identify research gaps so we can convert strong evidence into producer-focused action as well as develop programs and support for change. 

“We have set ambitious targets to achieve up to an 80 per cent reduction in nitrogen and up to a 50 per cent reduction in sediment flowing from key reef catchments by 2025.

“To help achieve this, we are investing $100 million over five years in programs to improve the health of the reef, in addition to the ongoing annual $35 million investment to protect the reef. 

"Our actions have put us on a strong path to making sure the reef is not actually in danger, or listed as such by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee.” 

Dr Miles was joined for the release of the strategy by Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart. 

“The government is securing the future of one of our most valuable environmental assets by improving water quality entering the reef,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“By securing the future of the reef, we are also securing the future for the many thousands of North Queenslanders who rely it on for their livelihoods.” 

The strategy aligns with the broader Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2013-2018 designed to support the Australian and Queensland Governments’ joint Reef Water Quality Protection Plan,which in turn informs the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan. 

It focuses on key reef catchments in the Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Fitzroy and Mackay-Whitsunday, and targets priority pollutants identified in the joint plan. 

It describes specific investment in research to reduce the loss of nitrogen, pesticides and sediment across reef catchments, and improve the effectiveness of management practices and tools to help producers reduce runoff from their properties. 

“The new strategy will also help prioritise the state’s investment and policy response to promote improvement in agricultural production systems for grazing, sugarcane growing and banana production through to 2019,” Dr Miles said.

The strategy forms the basis of the annual $2.5 million Reef Water Quality science program undertaken by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. The strategy builds on the success of the first phase of the science initiative which commenced in 2009. 

ENDS

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