Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Coast has been graded, with the release of the 2022 Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac (MWI) waterway health Report Card last week.
Assessing waterway conditions within the region, the report considers freshwater, estuary, and marine environments.
Using data collected from July 2021 till June 2022, the Whitsunday Coast was graded between B (good) and D (poor) rankings.
The Northern Inshore Marine scored C, meaning ‘moderate’, with the Don Basin receiving a B.
The Gregory River Estuary received a B and was the only estuary in the MWI region to receive a ‘Very Good’ grade for nutrients.
In 2021, this estuary received an A ‘Very Good’ grade and was reduced this year due to a minor decrease in water quality indicators.
Proserpine Basin received a B, while the Whitsunday Inshore Marine area, from Gregory River to Cape Conway, received the worst result across the region with a D.
This is due to poor seagrass and coral and moderate water quality.
However, this score has improved from 2021, with the water quality improving over the year timeframe.
Despite this, Chair of the Partnership, Charlie Morgan, said the results highlighted where more information was needed; where achievements could be celebrated; and where more work could be done.
“From rivers to reef – when it comes to waterway health, it is critical that we have regular data and information to make informed decisions and good choices as a community,” Ms Morgan said.
“What this year’s information shows us is that there is an opportunity to fill some key data gaps – for example, by focusing on fish.
“There are currently no monitoring programs for estuarine fish in our region, and we know how much fish mean to those of us living in the Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac regions! To have more active monitoring would be valuable to our communities.”
Ms Morgan added that, importantly, the release of the latest Report Card provided a chance to reflect on waterway health and its value.
“The Mackay Whitsunday and Isaac regions are communities rich in natural beauty and reliant on our waterways, so the more we focus on this information to plan for the future, the better,” she said.
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