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.
2020-2023 Focus: Improvement in coastal ecosystems through wetland restoration and improvement of fish habitat connectivity Catchments: Murray, Lower Herbert Investment: $5 million Funder: Australian Government's Reef Trust Phase VII Delivery Partners: Terrain NRM
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.
Martine joined the Wet Tropics Waterways team as a Science Technical Officer in early 2024. 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. She is using her experience in statistical programming and database development to develop new systems for the Report Card.
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.
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.
Rowan is a conservation scientist with a background in wildlife science and tropical ecology. She holds a Bachelor of Wildlife Science from the University of Queensland and has recently completed a Master of Tropical Biology and Conservation at James Cook University.
Rowan brings experience in science communication, with a strong interest in connecting people with conservation outcomes. In her role with Wet Tropics Waterways, she supports initiatives that combine scientific knowledge with community outreach to help protect the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef catchments, and to strengthen collaboration between researchers, stakeholders, and the wider community.