Sharing wisdom of reef projects

THE latest developments in a major reef water quality project proposed for Far North Queensland will be revealed at a community information session next week.

The Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (MIP), which will begin on Cassowary Coast farms, includes monitoring onfarm bioreactors, wetlands and sediment basins as ways to reduce nutrient and sediment loads entering the GBR.

The project will also include the introduction of a Reef Credits system that will be similar to carbon credits and the proposed construction of a wetland along Sandy Creek Road at Jarra Creek.

Contractors have done topographical surveys and soil samples at sites in the Tully and Johnstone catchments to help guide the design and construction stages of systems repair technologies on farm sites.

MIP catchment repair officer Suzette Argent said 40 onfarm sites had been assessed over the past three months and detailed investigations underway on first-stage sites.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with banana and cane farmers to trial these technologies in the Wet Tropics,” she said.

James Cook University’s Dr Alex Cheesman said the topographic surveys would identify key landform heights and help determine how the water moves in the landscape.

“With them we can ensure whatever is designed doesn’t impact drainage and does a good job at treating water,” he said. “We also take core soil samples to learn about the underlying soil.

“The designs for the catchment repair technologies need to work with the underlying soil materials. Understanding what we’ve got helps manage earth movement and onground works appropriately.”

The Queensland Government, through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, is investing up to $15 million in the MIP.