A Plan for the Future:
Looking after our Water
After three years of gaining knowledge and
understanding the condition of our land and water resources, as
well as consultation around land management practices, NQ Dry
Tropics has released the region’s first Water Quality
Improvement Plan.
The Plan aims to reduce the loss of sediment,
nutrients and pesticides from agricultural (sugar and grazing)
land. This is the first time that a clear strategy and set of
scientifically valid water quality target reductions have been
developed for the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region.
Dr. Ian Dight, author of the Burdekin
Water Quality Improvement Plan from NQ Dry Tropics
said: “sediments, nutrients and
pesticides lost from agricultural land not only represented a loss
of productivity and a cost to landholders, but
also results in the environmental degradation of our
region. Ultimately, they impact on important aquatic habitats and
ecosystems downstream and enter the Great Barrier Reef World
Heritage Area.”
Commenting on the benefits of the plan, Ian
said: “implementation of the broad
range of actions and strategies contained within the Plan will
deliver more than better water; it will underpin a better
quality of life and development of a more socially resilient
community in the face of uncertain social, economic and climatic
change.
“All
members of our community, including many living outside the
combined Burdekin and Haughton River catchments and within
population centres such as Townsville, have an interest and stake
in good water quality and a healthy aquatic environment,” he
said.
The Burdekin Water Quality Improvement Plan was
developed in collaboration with a broad range of partner
organisations and individuals, including landholders, industry
groups and the scientific community,
Free copies of the Burdekin WQIP
and Catchment Atlas can be obtained either by viewing or
downloading from our website or alternatively a
copy can be mailed out by contacting our office on (07)
4724 3544 or e-mail: bwqip@nqdrytropics.com.au
.
