REEF WATER WOES THE FOCUS OF $20M PROGRAM
A NEW multimillion-dollar program to improve the water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon is starting to take shape in the Lower Burdekin.
The program, valued at $20.4 million, aims to improve the management practices of cane farmers, resulting in better water quality for the lagoon.
The four-year program, officially known as the Lower Burdekin Regional Water Quality Program, is being implemented by NQ Dry Tropics in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
NQ Dry Tropics is coordinating the delivery of sustainable irrigation and nutrient and pesticide
management practices to achieve water quality targets.
NQ Dry Tropics’ sustainable agriculture program manager Rob Hunt said involving local service providers in the design, planning and delivery of the program ensured maximum support and adoption.
“The projects will improve farm production and
profitability while collectively contributing to the water quality targets defined in the Reef 2050 Plan,” Mr Hunt said.
“Opportunities include support to deliver irrigation, nutrient, and pesticide management improvements and wetland treatment systems.
“They have been designed
to link in with existing and new initiatives to maximise the overall benefits to production and profitability while minimising off-farm environmental and water quality impacts.”
The regional partnership includes NQ Dry Tropics, Sugar Research Australia, Farmacist, Greening Australia and Green Collar.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said the foundation looked forward to working with NQ Dry Tropics to deliver the regional program.
“A healthy reef needs clean water, which is why improving water quality from land-based run-off is so important,” Ms Marsden said.