Funding to help farmers help reef
APRIL 23, 2016: I welcome today's announcement by the Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt that the Turnbull Government is investing a further $11 million in new projects to improve the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. This will help farmers with the great work they do to manage effects on the environment, and it will help the Reef to withstand pressures such as the current coral bleaching event.The funding, to be delivered under Phase Three of the Reef Trust, will help local farmers reduce the impact of agricultural practices on the Reef.“The Great Barrier Reef is one of our most treasured natural assets, but it is also highly vulnerable to climate impacts,” Minister Hunt said.“Maximising the health and resilience of the ecosystem by reducing poor quality run-off and erosion will help protect the Reef and build its resilience.”This funding includes:
- $3.3 million to enhance farm management practices by improving nutrient and chemical management among early adopter sugar cane growers.
- $3.2 million for improving grazing land management to reduce erosion losses to the Reef.
- $4.8 million to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef by facilitating the adoption of best practice management in agriculture.
These projects will help our local farmers continue their hard work to manage soils, fertilisers and pesticides, and minimise run-off into waterways and the Reef.The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan Independent Expert Panel advises the Government on Reef Trust investments, and has endorsed the Phase Three approach of reducing nutrient and pesticide loss from intensive agriculture, and sediment loss from erosion hotspots. Improving water quality continues to be the highest priority.These projects are part of the Australian Government’s $140 million Reef Trust, which has invested in projects that have restored wetlands, improved fertiliser efficiency, culled crown of thorns starfish and provided greater protection of dugongs and marine turtles.