Celebrating A Decade Of Healthy Rivers To Reef

To celebrate a decade of waterway health and data, Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership showcased a vibrant display of river-themed artwork last Thursday, on July 25th.

The event was launched as part of the Mackay Festival of Arts ‘Submerged in Our Region’ exhibition which was held at Gallery 31 at CQUniversity’s Mackay City campus.

Partnership Chair, Charlie Morgan, said the achievement was significant.

“That is 10 years of community, 10 years of data, and 10 years of collaboration with likeminded stakeholders who think proactively about waterway health and regional sustainability,” Ms Morgan said.

She said community was at the heart of regional data, and the reason regional report cards were unique.

“We collate a huge range of data – more than $4 million worth annually – from data providers and Partners who operate in our region, or who are committed to learning more about our local waterways,” she said.

“In 2024 we have 36 dedicated Partners in the community, representing all sectors, including agriculture, conservation, tourism, government, industry and Traditional Owners.

The 2024 Report Card has revealed a range of waterway health scores from ‘A’ to ‘C’ across the region’s 18 key graded areas, reflecting results for five freshwater basins, eight estuary areas and five marine zones.

For only the second time in 10 years, there is no overarching ‘D’ grade to be seen in the region.

“This is certainly something to celebrate, with the ‘D’ of the Whitsunday Inshore Marine zone lifting to a ‘C’ in 2024,” Ms Morgan said.

The grade change increase was influenced by decreased concentrations of nutrients, chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and the incorporation of pesticide data.

However, Ms Morgan said after 10 years of data, the Report Card had also begun to highlight some challenging trends.

“Water quality grades are ‘moderate (C)’ for the seventh consecutive year in the O’Connell Basin, and the tenth consecutive year in the Pioneer Basin,” she said.

“Pesticides in both the Proserpine and Plane basins are ‘very poor (E)’ for the seventh year in a row, and the Murray/St Helens Creek estuary recorded its lowest chl-a score since the Report Card’s inception.”

Chlorophyll-a is a key indicator of phytoplankton biomass and activity, and can significantly impact the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems, including nutrient enrichment and algal blooms. Ms Morgan said it was a goal of the Report Card to identify regional issues, so improvements could be made.

“We really want to see these results used by the community to help drive investment into projects that will make a difference,” she said.

Ms Morgan said she was excited to celebrate 10 years with Partners and the wider community.

“The Submerged in Our Region art exhibition is a real celebration of community, with more than 140 entries received!

“We are so proud to bring art and science together to showcase our region’s beautiful waterways and the vital life and industries they support.”

Queensland Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation Leanne Linard commended the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership for its ongoing efforts to improve water quality in the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac region.

“This annual report card will provide a benchmark as the partnership continues its work to further improve water quality.

“We are investing $1.25 million annually across the five regional report card partnerships, with the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership last year receiving $240,000 in funding.”

Healthy Rivers to Reef Executive Officer Jaime Newborn said that “We are always looking for innovative new ways to improve our waterways and to preserve and protect them so that future generations can enjoy them as we do.

“We know Mackay Isaac Whitsunday residents love waterways, so this exhibition is a testament to that, whether it be fishing, recreation, a stroll on the beach at sunset, we work and play on our waterways, so the role that this partnership plays is really important in providing the data that we need to make good decisions about our waterways.”

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Charlie Morgan, Chair of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Healthy Rivers to Reef partnership, Healthy Rivers to Reef Executive Officer Jaime Newborn with Gallery Curator and Director Glenda Hobdell and Deputy Chair of the partnership and Industry Rep Kevin Kane

The Exhibition featured a display of waterway themed entries, including everything from creative fashion based on rivers to sculpture, writing, mixed media, film and more. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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