$32M HUB TO FIX REEF EXCLUSIVE
Environment Minister to sink cash into Cairns projects to protect our tourism industry
A NEW brains trust has been recruited to reverse poor water quality on the Great Barrier Reef, and to help protect the natural asset’s $5.2 billion tourism industry.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who is expected to be in Cairns today, will announce 24 innovative research projects to be carried out by the Federal Government’s Tropical Water Quality Hub, aimed at improving coastal water quality and management.
It comes as the latest report card for Great Barrier Reef shows the inshore marine environment remains poor, and progress towards CAIRNS regional councillor Cathy Zeiger hopes a petition containing the signatures of about 700 White Rock State School parents and wider community members will force the State Government to “sit up and take notice”.
The petition, which calls for a supervisor, or “lollipop person”, to help children cross a busy Bruce Highway intersection near the school, will today be presented to the office of Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt.
Cr Zeiger met with Mr Pitt last Friday to express concerns held by the school’s parents.
“He’s supportive, but unable to tell whether it will happen or not,” she said.
The six-lane section of the highway is used by about 40,000 vehicles each day.
Cr Zeiger said it “was a miracle” no child had been hit this year.
“The amount of people who water quality improvement targets has slowed dramatically. Mr Hunt said the $32 million research hub, which will be led by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre and James Cook University researcher Dr Damien Burrows, would connect scientists, policymakers and communities to deliver a research program that provided practical solutions to maintaining and improving water quality.
“The hub’s research will improve our understanding of the Reef on issues like cumulative impacts on water quality, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, and ways of reducing sediment loads and nitrogen gen run-off from agriculture,’’ he said. “It also supports the everyday man management of the Reef b by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park A Authority.”
R Research project ject highlights in include:
The development of a tradeable p perm i t s scheme for c cost-effective re reduction of ni nitrogen runoff off in sugarcane reef catchments; have contacted me about near misses … (there are) so many stories coming out of the woodwork,” she said.
Earlier this month, the Department of Transport and Main Roads said the crossing did not meet the requirements
Determining how Irukandji jellyfish respond to changing water quality, and how to predict their presence, based on environmental conditions;
Comprehensive mapping seagrass meadows, prime habitat for dugongs and sea turtles, to allow for better targeted management;
Building indigenous capacity and participation in the management of Queensland sea country;
Development of effective management strategies for reducing erosion and sediment sources.
RRRC managing director Sheriden Morris said it was critical there were innovations to improve water quality. “When we talk about the health of the Great Barrier Reef, it’s important to understand that it’s all underpinned by water quality,’’ she said.
“Problems with water quality lead to health impacts throughout the rest of the ecosystem. Improve water quality and it can boost the resilience of ecosystems like the Reef against other impacts like climate change and storm damage.”
The 2014 Reef Report Card, released at the International River Symposium in Brisbane yesterday, highlights the poor condition of the inshore for a supervisor – to the bemusement of White Rock State School Parents and Citizens president Bill Schutz.
“They can’t get their facts straight yet they tell us we can’t have a lollipop person,” he said.
Mr Schutz said up to 50 children used the crossing each day.
“We’re talking about children’s safety here, so it’s something we want to keep pushing.”
But Main Roads minister Mark Bailey said the intersection was “not considered an area of pedestrian concern.”
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads conducted a risk assessment of the Bruce Highway/Foster Rd crossing on 18 June 2015,” Mr Bailey said.
However, Mr Bailey said he would consider any petition put forward by residents. marine environment and the need for more farmers to voluntarily adopt best management practices.
“I’d say that if one of my kids came home with a report card like this, I’d be a bit disappointed,” Environment Minister Steven Miles said.
“There’s more bad news here than good news.”
The report monitored inputs and run-off, and the condition of the Reef’s complex marine ecosystems, between 2009 and 2014.
There has been some progress towards joint targets set by the state and federal governments – sediment reduced by 12 per cent, while nutrients fell by 17 per cent.
But there was a 0.4 per cent loss of riverbank vegetation.