Reef Water Quality Strategy a product of collaboration
The Reef Water Quality Strategy is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving water quality flowing from the Burdekin catchments to the Great Barrier Reef.
A recent workshop brought together members of the Burdekin Traditional Owner Management Group (TOMG) to contribute their traditional ecological knowledge to the strategy’s development.
Facilitated by NQ Dry Tropics in partnership with Senior Scientist Jane Waterhouse from C2O Consulting, the workshop provided a platform for TOMG members to share insights and priorities.
The strategy aims to integrate regional goals and actions to improve reef water quality, addressing land-based impacts such as fine sediment, pesticides, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen.
TOMG Chair Richard Hoolihan emphasised the importance of incorporating Indigenous perspectives into water management strategies.
“We would like to see the strategy recommend building the capacity of Traditional Owner groups to deliver the kinds of activities that will improve water quality, such as water sampling, water testing and other field work to inform these scientific processes,” Richard said.
This workshop marks the beginning of an engagement process involving farmers, Traditional Owners, scientists, industry, and government, working together to improve water quality and support the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Burdekin WQIP will be revised and updated accordingly.
Reef Water Quality Strategy Improvement Plan
The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (Reef 2050 WQIP) guides how governments, Natural Resource Management organisations, Reef communities, Traditional Owners and industry work together to improve the quality of water from Reef catchments to the Great Barrier Reef.
A review of the Reef 2050 WQIP is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2026, with updated water quality targets to 2030. The Australian and Queensland governments have committed to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to complete this review.
Implementing Traditional Owner science, knowledge, aspirations and grassroots approaches in the next Reef 2050 WQIP is a critical part of the review.
Developing spatial management prioritisation will help prioritise water quality improvement activities and investment based on risks to the Reef. It will incorporate the latest modelling and monitoring information to assess the water quality risks to key coastal and marine ecosystems at a catchment scale.
The following components of the Reef 2050 WQIP are also being reviewed:
- Land management practice adoption targets for agriculture.
- Catchment management (ground cover, riparian and wetland extent) targets.
- Urban land use target.
- Human dimensions target.
This fact sheet explains the review process.
The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement is one of many inputs contributing to the Reef 2050 WQIP review. It was developed between 2022 and 2024, involving 147 authors and reviews from Australia and overseas.
Read the Consensus Statement here: https://reefwqconsensus.com.au/
Why water quality strategies are important for NRM
Regional water quality strategies are essential for effective Natural Resource Management (NRM) in the Burdekin region of Queensland, due to several key factors:
Protection of the Great Barrier Reef: The Burdekin catchment is a significant source of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Improving water quality in this region is crucial to reduce pollutants such as sediments, nutrients, and pesticides that can harm coral reefs and marine ecosystems. The Burdekin Region Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP), developed by NQ Dry Tropics, consolidates information to guide efforts in enhancing water quality in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.
Sustainable Agriculture: Agricultural activities, particularly sugarcane farming and grazing, are major contributors to water quality issues in the Burdekin. Implementing regional water quality strategies helps farmers adopt best management practices, such as precision nutrient management, to reduce runoff and improve soil health. Programs like the Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program support farmers in adopting these practices to enhance water quality outcomes.
Community Engagement and Traditional Knowledge: Incorporating the perspectives of Traditional Owner groups is vital for culturally appropriate and effective water management. The Traditional Owner Management Group (TOMG), facilitated by NQ Dry Tropics, provides guidance on cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge, ensuring that water quality strategies respect and integrate Indigenous values and practices.
Monitoring and Adaptive Management: Regional strategies enable systematic monitoring of water quality, facilitating adaptive management approaches. This ensures that interventions are effective and can be adjusted based on ongoing assessments.
Economic and Environmental Resilience: By improving water quality, regional strategies help maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems, which are vital for biodiversity and support local industries like fishing and tourism. Additionally, enhancing water quality can lead to cost savings for water treatment processes and reduce the need for expensive remediation efforts.
Read the latest Burdekin Region Reef Water Quality Report Card here.
BRIEFLY
The Burdekin region covers 8 per cent of Queensland. It spans a wide variety of landscapes, with a land area of about 134,000km² and 12,000km² of sea country.
The basin is the Great Barrier Reef’s second largest catchment. The flows within the catchment can have a major influence on the reef’s water quality and overall health.
It is also home to more than 5,500 species and Bowling Green Bay, a nationally important Ramsar Wetlands site.
