North Queensland-based Senator and Special Envoy for Northern Australia, Susan McDonald has hailed as a big win for farmers news that $1 billion in federal funding for the Great Barrier Reef would include examining urban water runoff.
Senator McDonald, who initiated a 2020 Senate inquiry into Reef science, said that for years farmers’ use of fertilisers had been solely blamed for nitrogen runoff into the GBR lagoon.
“I congratulate and thank Minister Sussan Ley and the Morrison Coalition Government for providing this additional money for practical environmental management and outcomes. For a long time farmers have been asking why urban stormwater and wastewater runoff didn’t seem to take its share of the blame for Reef nitrogen levels, but this will now be assessed,” she said.
“This is really good news because farmers have slashed their fertiliser use in recent years but nitrogen levels in Reef waters have remained stubbornly above targets.
“Urban runoff has long been suspected of offsetting farmers’ efforts but now we’re looking at examining its impact and finding practical ways to handle it.
“There are some treatment methods being trialled right now which will completely change the way we approach urban runoff and I expect these will be inspected closely by the Morrison Government as we continue our practical approach to water quality improvements.
“It is sensible and reasonable that we apply the same rigour to all water entering the Reef lagoon, not just what comes off farms.”
Senator McDonald said farmers in the Reef catchment could look forward to being recognised for the work many have already done to improve water quality.
“The Senate inquiry heard numerous times how the Labor State Government had taken a ‘big stick’ approach to farmers and their land management, failing to recognise industry programs initiated by Canegrowers and AgForce and threatening them with harsh penalties for missing unrealistically high targets, but the Coalition’s announcement today allows for collaboration with farmers to build on the good work already being done.
“A federally funded trial in the Burdekin recently achieved a 700-tonne reduction in fertiliser use with no loss of productivity – this is the sort of practical, on-farm cooperation we will adopt.”
ENDS.
Contact: Julian Tomlinson, 0421 059 187