Early Investment Grants
In 2019, the Foundation released the first $20 million worth of water quality grants under the Reef Trust Partnership. The grants were awarded to 11 projects that established or maintained on-ground work towards meeting the Partnership’s water quality targets.
#What was the impact?
These projects focused on reducing pollution from fine sediment, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and pesticides within moderate, high and very high-priority Reef catchments, directly contributing towards the Reef 2050 water quality objectives.
Most of these projects finished in 2021, however two are continuing to provide crucial support to landholders who are working hard to reduce the impact their land-based activities have on the health of the Reef.
Find out more about what these projects achieved and how they paved the way for the Partnership’s 10 major regional water quality programs and 30 water quality projects underway right now: First water quality projects wrap up under Reef Trust Partnership.
#The Projects
Cane Changer 2.0
Qld Cane Growers Organisation Ltd
$1,413,500
Region: Wet Tropics, Mackay, Burdekin and Southern Reef catchment regions
This behaviour change program uses co-design principals to elicit improved practises through accreditation in the SmartCane Best Management Program and other forms of ‘commitment’ towards improved practices. This phase of the project will build on the existing program in the Wet Tropics and initiate new programs in Mackay, Burdekin and Southern Regions.
Cane to Creek 2.0
Sugar Research Australia
$2,226,806
Region: Mossman, Mulgrave-Russell, Johnstone, Murray, Herbert and Haughton catchments
Works on farm with small cane grower groups to address nitrogen and pesticides. The program breaks down the barriers between scientists and growers, maximises peer-to-peer learning opportunities and improves understanding of the drivers of water quality impacts.
Early Career Extension Officers
Queensland Farmers' Federation
$1,258,768
Region: Very high, high and moderate priority Reef catchments as outlined in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (from Burdekin to the Burnett Mary)
This project will increase the delivery capacity related to agronomic extension by training early career extension officers (agricultural experts) in practices relevant to addressing sediment, nitrogen and pesticide runoff. The project will involve a 12-month placement of up to eight early career extension officers.
Gully erosion control in the Mary River Catchment
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee
$646,500
Region: Mary River catchment
Addresses sediment discharge to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon through gully restoration on grazing land. The project will also work with graziers to increase awareness and actively manage lands that are susceptible to erosion through the adoption of best land management practices.
Innovative Gully Project - Phase 3
Greening Australia
$2,092,040
Region: Lower Burdekin
This project aims to reduce the amount of sediment discharging to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon by approximately 3,200 tons per annum through remediation of alluvial gullies by using established techniques. In addition, the project will aim to pilot the Reef Credit system and investigate how Reef Credits could be used to fund gully remediation works and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Project Bluewater
Farmacist Pty Ltd
$1,243,500
Region: Haughton, Pioneer and O’Connell Rivers and Plane Creek catchment areas
This project reduces the runoff of pesticides into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon through the adoption of improved sugar cane farming practices. The project will directly engage over 70 growers, managing over 12,000 ha of land, in the catchments of Haughton, Pioneer, O’Connell Rivers, and Plane Creek identified as high priority in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
An Evidence Based Approach to Improving Water Quality in Barratta Creek Catchment (Stage 2)
BRIA Irrigators
$900,520
Region: Barrata Creek System (Burdekin River Irrigation Area)
Farmer (cane) led project which raises awareness and drives practice change through improved fertiliser application, modifying pesticide type and quantity and improving irrigation efficiency.
Project Catalyst - Extension
Catchment Solutions Pty Ltd
$2,407,751
Region: Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Mackay/Whitsunday regions
Supports a network of cane farmers in the Reef catchments to improve farming practices to reduce nutrient run off to the Reef. This is achieved by focusing on soil testing, nutrient management plans and implementation of controlled traffic management systems (reducing soil compaction by confining heavy machinery to permanent traffic lanes).
Project Pioneer - Extension
Resource Consulting Services Australia
$2,899,500
Region: Very high, high and moderate priority Reef catchments as outlined in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan
Project Pioneer promotes the adoption of regenerative grazing operations to increase ground cover in grazing lands and reduce sediment in runoff to the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to the improved water quality entering the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, other environmental outcomes include reduction in carbon loss from soils, increased biodiversity on-farm, particularly soil and aquatic life, and increased landscape resilience to the effects of climate change.
Reef Alliance Project, Phase 2
Queensland Farmers' Federation
$3.5 million
Region: Very high, high and moderate priority Reef catchments as outlined in the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay/Whitsundays, Fitzroy and Burnett Mary)
Supports cane farmers and graziers by using one-to-one agricultural experts (extension officers) to move 462 land holders, covering 209,750 ha, towards best practice to reduce sediment, nitrogen and pesticides.
Reefwise Grazing of Burdekin Rangelands
NQ Dry Tropics
$659,984
Region: Burdekin
This project will produce dedicated and specific education, training, capacity building and incentives that will take 12 grazing landholders on a progressive journey towards techniques that proactively manage stock grazing pressure and minimise the potential for declining land condition leading to reduced sediment runoff. The project will also result in a further 50 landholders using increased knowledge and skills to apply management changes to improve the quality of water discharged from their property.