Over the past weeks, we have been featuring stories on various water quality projects being delivered in the Mackay Whitsunday region, which are funded by the partnership between the Australian Government and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Regional programs, like those being delivered here in the Whitsundays, seek to work with landholders to refine farming practices now and into the future, leading to enduring water quality improvement.
To date nearly 400 farm-level projects are underway in the Mackay Whitsunday region, with all contributing to specific targets on reduction of pesticides and nutrients entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
The Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program (MWWQP) targets are to reduce losses of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) by 26 tonnes and pesticide active ingredients by 215 kilograms. Now over halfway through the program, modelling shows that these targets are expected to be met or exceeded by the completion date of June 2024.
Chris Dench, Program Manager for the MWWQP said that “the reporting to date is encouraging, and the significant uptake of projects in our region highlights the commitment of growers to improve water quality on farm and consequently the quality of water that flows to the reef.”
The overall target of all regional water quality programs in Queensland is to reduce 457 tonnes of DIN, 463 kilotonnes of fine sediments and 250 kilograms of pesticides from entering the Reef.
More than 800 farmers and graziers to date are involved in projects that have contributed to the 187 tonnes of nitrogen, 229 kilograms of pesticides and up to 37 kilotonnes of fine sediment prevented from entering the Reef each year so far (GBRF Progress Dashboard).
Reporting on the outcomes of the projects from all regional programs is through the Paddock to Reef integrated monitoring, modelling and reporting program (Paddock to Reef) which is jointly funded by both the Australian and Queensland Governments.
For more information on the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program or Paddock to Reef please visit www.reefcatchments.com.au
Contributed with thanks to Reef Catchments.
Nearly 400 farm-level projects are underway in the Mackay Whitsunday region, aiming to reduce the number of pesticides entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Photo: Stock image
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