Wave of funding diverts wastewater from reef

The Palaszczuk Government and Fraser Coast Regional Council have declared wastewater on the nose, diverting 5,000 megalitres of sewage from reaching the Great Barrier Reef.

Minister Meaghan Scanlon said instead of ending up down the drain and in the reef, waste water in the region was now being treated and used by farmers and timber plantations, supporting jobs as part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

The $460,000 co-funded program follows the announcement of another $270 million for the reef in the latest Queensland budget.

“The Great Barrier Reef supports $6 billion in economic activity and more than 60,000 jobs, making it a key driver in delivering our plan for economic recovery from COVID-19,” Minister Scanlon said.

“Projects like this are helping to protect the reef and the jobs it supports, while also finding new ways to turn wastewater into a valuable resource for local industry.

“UNESCO has made it clear that together with climate change, water quality is one of the biggest threats to the health of our reef – which is why we continue to take action.

“It’s a key part of our record $1.4 billion investment to protect the environment, create jobs and foster innovation in regional hubs like the Fraser Coast.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said it is estimated that urban and industrial activities contribute seven per cent of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and almost two per cent of sediment in run-off flowing to the reef.

“Instead of that sewage ending up in our oceans, it’s being utilised by our local industries to grow not just much-needed crops and timber but also local businesses and jobs,” Mr Saunders said.

Fraser Coast Regional Council Mayor George Seymour said reusing treated effluent for irrigation instead of discharging it into the ocean was having major benefits on the environment.

“We are using excess treated wastewater for farming and to irrigate timber plantations, and we have prevented more than four tonnes of nutrients ending up in the ocean each year,” Councillor Seymour said.

“My Council is leading the way and protecting the environment through the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program.

“Under the program, more than 5,500 million litres of recycled water are used by farmers in the region, and to irrigate Council timber plantations.”

Minister Scanlon said the co-funded program joins other initiatives the Palaszczuk Government has implemented with councils and water providers to divert land-based sources of water pollution.

Those projects include:

• $128,000 for the development and first round implementation of the Urban Water Stewardship Framework
• $1.21 million for the Reef Council’s Reef Rescue Plan Cleaner Wastewater Initiative
• $450,000 for the Great Barrier Reef Point Source Metadata Project
• $1.74 million for the Erosion and Sediment Control and Urban Stormwater Capacity Building

For more information visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/reef/reef-program

Link to video grabs from Minister Scanlon: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qzmjtv19tlu7afg/Video%2010-8-21%2C%207%2004%2023%20pm.mov?dl=0

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078