Healthy waterways underpin our lifestyles and livelihoods. When waterways thrive, so do we.
There’s many people and groups around the region working
to improve reef and waterway health. We think their work
should be celebrated. We’re committed to telling their
stories and hope that it sparks important conversations.
RP161C Complete Nutrient Management Planning for Cane Farming Project 2019-2022 Focus: Extension support for cane growers on whole farm nutrient management planning Catchments: Russell-Mulgrave Investment: $7.08 million Funder: Australian and Queensland Governments Delivery Partners: Sugar Research Australia, Farmacist
RP163 Protecting our chemicals for the future (2017-2020) Focus: Helping cane growers understand water quality implications of chemicals and how they’re used Catchments: Tully, Johnstone, Russell-Mulgrave, Barron Investment: Funder: Australian and Queensland Governments Delivery Partners: Sugar Research Australia
2018-2022 Focus: Reduction of fine sediment by repairing erosion hotspots with engineered solutions and revegetation. The program is also supporting landholders with natural grazing educational workshops Catchments: Upper Johnstone Investment: $2.3 million Funder: Queensland Government Delivery partners: Terrain NRM
2018-2022 Focus: Strengthening stream banks to prevent soil loss during floods with a combination of engineered solutions and revegetation Catchments: Mossman Investment: $1 million Funder: Queensland Government Delivery partners: Terrain NRM
2017-2022 Focus: Reduction in DIN runoff from cane farms using new nutrient management practices. Funds allocated to 39 cane growers through a competitive market-based program. Catchments: Herbert, Murray, Tully, Johnstone, Russell-Mulgrave Investment: $5 million Funder: Australian Government Delivery partners: Terrain NRM, Wet Tropics Sugar Industry Partnership
2017-2021 Focus: Whole of catchment approach with comprehensive local scale monitoring, farm services and trial of new catchment repair systems inc. bioreactors, high efficiency sediment basins, constructed wetlands and vegetated drains. Catchments: Johnstone and Tully Investment: $15 million Funder: Queensland Government Delivery Partners: Terrain NRM, Canegrowers, Australian Banana Growers Council Listen to the Reef & Rivers podcast for more information
Project Uplift 2016-2019 Focus: Grants to support cane farmers to adopt SRA's Farming Systems (6 Easy Steps) Catchments: Investment: $17.3 million Funder: Australian Government (Reef Trust Phase 5), sugar industry Delivery Partner: MSF Sugar
2017-2022 Focus: Reduction in fine sediment runoff by remediating gully and streambank erosion on grazing properties Catchments: Upper Herbert Investment: $3 million Funder: Australian Government’s Reef Trust IV program Delivery Partner: Terrain NRM Listen to the Reef & Rivers podcast for more information
2016-2019 Focus: Reduction in nutrient and pesticides through provision of agricultural extension programs with a focus on nutrient management planning Catchments: All Investment: $10 million sugarcane Funder: Australian Government’s Reef Trust Delivery partners: Terrain NRM, Wet Tropics Sugar Industry Partnership (17 organisations), Australian Banana Growers Council, Barron Catchment Care The sugarcane component of this project was extended to the end of 2020 by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Project Catalyst 2014 – ongoing Focus: Development of a network of cane farmers who are trialling innovative cane farming practices Catchments: All Funder: Australian Government’s Reef Trust, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Coca Cola Delivery partners: Terrain NRM/Catchment Solutions Go to www.projectcatalyst.net.au to find out more
Simon has over 30 years’ experience advocating for waterways across academia, government and the private sector. He started out in marine botany with a fascination for seagrass, mangroves and macroalgae, and has gone on to lead major environmental initiatives both in Australia and overseas. He has established report cards in eight countries.
Martine joined the Wet Tropics Waterways team as a Science Technical Officer in early 2024 and is keen to apply her experience in statistical programming and database development for the Report Card.
She is an environmental scientist and ecologist and has worked on water quality and aquatic ecology projects as a consultant and in private industry for over 20 years.
Martine has many hobbies and is currently dabbling in horticulture.
James joined Wet Tropics Waterways as Executive Officer in 2021 and is passionate about working with stakeholders to communicate the value of our unique waterways. His role involves facilitating and coordinating our partnership program, growing our network and investment into the report card program, and science communication. James oversaw the 2022 Innovations in Waterway Health Forum, and hosted season four of the Reef and Rivers podcast.
James is an ecologist and has previously worked on wetland management in the Murray Darling basin, fish passage in Mackay, and aquatic research in the Wet Tropics.
Outside of work you’ll find him in a local waterway with a mask and snorkel, or hiking or biking around our beautiful region.
Richard has been the Science Technical Officer for Wet Tropics Waterways since 2016. His role involves producing the annual results for the waterway health assessment of the wet tropics region using data from a wide range of sources, to present as scores and grades, as well as developing new indicators to address knowledge and monitoring gaps. He works in collaboration with technical staff at other regional report cards.
Richard has a background in freshwater ecology research projects and environmental assessments with CSIRO, University of Queensland, Queensland Government and as a consultant. For a long time he’s been interested in freshwater aquaculture and continues this interest through farming freshwater crayfish, alongside other farming activities.