$ 444m reef group eyes local input

THE Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the charity that received a $ 444 million Federal Government grant, will look to establish a presence in Townsville.

The foundation’s managing director Anna Marsden said she had met with a number of organisations in Townsville last week to discuss funding and collaboration opportunities to ensure “it has the maximum impact for the reef”.

“While it’s still too early to confirm any specific project details, there is no doubt that Townsville’s reef experts will be involved in a number of projects across the six years of the Reef Trust Partnership,” Ms Marsden said.

“We are also exploring options to have a presence in Townsville with the Barrier Reef Marine Authority.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull came under fire for what some claimed was a “captain’s call” to hand the cash over to an organisation with just six staff without a tender process.

The foundation is supported by such companies as Qantas, BHP, Rio Tinto, Google and Orica.

Ms Marsden said the funds would help support work already being undertaken through the Reef 2050 Plan.

Investment would be made across five key areas to: improve water quality through changed farming practices, harness “best science” to drive reef restoration and support reef resilience, expand the fight against crown of thorns starfish, increase community engagement on the reef and improve reef health monitoring and tracking. Great Park

Ms Marsden said the foundation had a “long history” of partnering with the likes of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University on reef projects.

A spokeswoman for the authority said it remained Australia’s “lead manager of the marine park” and was responsible for the park’s management and protection.

The spokeswoman said the authority would work with the foundation to establish a model for how the two would work together on projects associated with the funding.

“The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority also received an additional $ 42.7 million for its joint field management program over the next six years, which we will directly administer and use to boost our efforts out on the water,” the spokeswoman said.