Growers guide way
CANE and banana growers at Innisfail and Tully have the chance to influence government policy of Reef protection measures when two workshops are held next week.
The State Government is funding a major integrated project in the Wet Tropics aimed at reducing nutrient and pesticide losses from cane and banana farms in the Tully and Johnstone River catchments.
The project will also help provide a blueprint for future Reef projects in other locations and the successful design phase will determine the Wet Tropics’ share of $33 million allocated by the Government.
Canegrowers Innisfail chairman Joe Marano was surprised 150 people had already registered their interest in the project.
“It’s going to be very important. Up to now, in all the Reef programs, the Government has told us how it’s going to be,” he said.
“I don’t know how it’s going to work, but we’re giving it a go.
“It could encompass anything. It is primarily to do with cane and banana farms but if there are community projects associated with water quality they could be considered too.”
Mr Marano said understanding how cane plants used nitrogen and technology to provide real-time data on fertiliser impacts could be discussed.
Terrain NRM chief executive Carole Sweatman said the project would be the first to look beyond farm practice and incorporate solutions across all activities in the catchments.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity to ensure local knowledge is incorporated into a Reef Water Quality project to suit local conditions and farmer circumstances,” she said.
The workshops will be held at Mourilyan on Thursday from 9am-4pm at the Australian Sugar Heritage Museum and at Tully Mill Recreational Hall on Friday.
They will be facilitated by Sue Middleton.