$784m needed for Great Barrier Reef repair

    The Australian
    January 20, 2015


IMPROVING water quality on the Great Barrier Reef requires a fundamental change in land use and would cost $784 million over the next five years, according to a key report to be released today.

The analysis by the six Natural Resource Management Reg­ions whose river catchments drain into the reef said onshore runoff was the key issue for future reef health.

Spokesman Mike Berwick said, unlike the predicted impacts of climate change, which inclu­ded coral bleaching and ocean acidification, it was possible to ­respond directly to improve water quality. While port dredging and increased shipping were important issues for the reef, ­improving water quality from ­onshore runoff was the primary concern.

“We are talking about a fundamental change in the way we manage a vast landscape: the reef and its catchments are double the size of Germany or Italy,” he said.

The six-region body is working as part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ joint Long Term Sustainability Plan, which was initiated in response to concerns by UNESCO about the long-term health of the World Heritage-listed reef.

The federal and Queensland governments have already committed hundreds of millions of dollars towards improving water quality on the Great Barrier Reef in response to UNESCO threats to declare the reef “in danger”.

Avoiding an “in danger” listing has been a key environmental priority of successive federal governments and is expected to be the focus of an international campaign by Environment Minister Greg Hunt this year.

International environment groups are also lobbying directly to UNESCO in support of the reef and against fossil-fuel export developments.

Mr Hunt welcomed the report and said over the next decade the federal and state governments would invest a projected $2 billion to protect the Great Barrier Reef. “Our combined investment is significant and we are directing funds where they will have the greatest benefit,” Mr Hunt said.

Applications have now opened for the $5 million Reef Trust Tender through which farmers can apply for funds to improve their farm’s nitrogen use efficiency.

Between 2008 and 2013,
more than $1bn was spent through a range of plans including Reef Plan and Reef Rescue.

The joint governments’ Reef Report Card 2008-13 showed a 10 per cent reduction in annual average total nitrogen load, 11 per cent reduction in annual average sediment load and 28 per cent reduction in annual average pesticide load.

Mr Berwick said reductions to date were modest compared with the pollutant load reductions needed to save the reef but as the only positive indicator of reef health, they were a fantastic step forward.

All other indicators of reef health — including coral and
sea grass cover, water temperature and acidity — were all declining.

He said $784m was needed over five years to continue reducing the impact of nitrogen, sediment and agricultural chemicals.

Nitrogen could be reduced by 30-35 per cent, sediment by
15-20 per cent and agricultural chemicals by 60-90 per cent.

“This assumes about 90 per cent of farmers and agricultural lands will reach the current definition of best practice,” Mr Berwick said.

It is still around half the governments’ pollutant load reduction target set for 2018, and one-third of the load reduction targets that scientists now estimate were needed to bring
the reef back to health.

“Without investment on this scale the GBR will remain in danger and continue to decline,” Mr Berwick said.

Queensland Election: Labor pledges $100m for Great Barrier Reef

Date
    January 14, 2015
    Brisbane Times

Labor will spend $100 million over five years to reduce damage to the Great Barrier Reef, according to Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk.      

Ms Palaszczuk was on Green Island on Wednesday morning to announce a high-level taskforce to research ways to protect the reef.


The Labor leader said it was the first serious campaign commitment to "reverse the decline in the Great Barrier Reef".


The money will be spent on weather quality and environmental sustainability programs to be selected by the taskforce to be run by the Environment Department.

Ms Palaszczuk also committed Labor to reducing nitrogen run-off in the Wet Tropics and Burdekin regions by 80 per cent by 2025.

It would also reduce total suspended sediment run-off by up to 50 per cent in the catchments.

Environment Minister Andrew Powell released a report late last year showing slow progress in improving nutrient run-off.

The announcement comes as UNESCO considers officially listing the Great Barrier Reef as "in danger" this year.

"The Great Barrier Reef is essential for tourism and it is essential for jobs," Ms Palaszczuk said.

She said the reef generates $6 billion in revenue and 60,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

Ms Palaszczuk argued the recent warnings by UNESCO should be taken seriously.

"The federal and state governments have let the Great Barrier Reef down," she said.   

One local glass bottom boat operator said crown of thorns starfish collectors had brought in up to 2000 starfish near Michealmas Reef, near Cairns. Nutrient run-off feeds the starfish.

Labor environment spokeswoman Jackie Trad said the policy included ambitious targets for the taskforce to reduce run-off.

The taskforce would include representatives from primary producers, scientists, tourism groups, conservation groups and local government.

Ms Trad said Labor would stand by its pledge to legislate to prohibit dredge spoil being dumped on the reef.

"We are the only party in this election that has committed to legislating the prohibition of commercial dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef," Ms Trad said.

The LNP last year ruled out dumping dredge spoil on the Great Barrier Reef, but has stopped short of offering to legislate to prevent it.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney told The Courier-Mail that dredge spoil from the GVK Abbot Point proposal could still be dumped at sea.

The Queensland Government is still trying to get federal government approval to dump on shore, while the company is arguing that would be too expensive.

Ms Trad said that could mean three million tonnes of dredge spoil could still be dumped on the reef.

"That would be an environmental catastrophe," she said.

Labor believes the best option - although the most expensive one - is to re-use the dredge spoil to reclaim the port area.

"That is the best environmental outcome," she said.

Ms Trad has also warned the Queensland Government had not released the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cairns cruise ship proposal.

"The government is hiding it from Queenslanders," she said.