Australian Government Reef Achievements (2008 - 2013)

2014
Department of the Environment
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About the report

This report provides information on the success of the Australian Government investments to reduce nutrient, pesticide and sediment discharge into the reef from broadscale landuse over the period 2008 to 2013. These activities were supported under the banner of Reef Rescue through to 2013 and will continue to 2018 through the Reef Programme.

The programme supports agricultural land managers to reduce the loads of these pollutants entering the reef from broad-scale land use to increase the resilience of the reef to a range of threats and pressures. The programme is the Australian Government’s contribution to the goals and targets of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2009.

Regional achievements summaries

These summaries showcase the contributions and achievements the six NRM organisations located in the Great Barrier Reef catchment have made through the Reef Rescue programme. Each region was prioritised for allocations of funding based on its overall relative risk to the reef, which varies depending on the major regional land uses and the key pollutants present. The reports cover the number of farmers, pastoralists and landholders, from each region, who have adopted improved land management practices and provide estimates of the area of land, over which improved land management practices were implemented. Monitoring and reporting of these changed management practices, undertaken by the regional organisations and Queensland Government, has provided us with data which indicates how participating individuals and organisations have assisted and contributed to the improvement of water quality and reduction of pollutants from land-based activities entering the reef lagoon.

Each summary contains information detailing the regional characteristics, the priority pollutants and industries for the region and how these were prioritised for actions by the regional organisation. Each region’s progress towards the programme’s water quality targets and the management practice targets are outlined and the partnerships crucial to the regional successes are identified. To provide some context to the actions undertaken, each regional summary contains a case study, showcasing the success of a noteworthy project and an award winning farmer. These examples explain the outcomes, and what was required on-ground to achieve them. The dedication and hard work of these individuals and many others in the regions, have been fundamental in producing these results.

Further information