MORE MONEY FOR REEF RESCUE

The federal government’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Treasurer Wayne Swan, recently confirmed the highly successful Reef Rescue Program for a further five years with a $200 million extension to the program.

Turf Queensland has been and continues to work with various Land Care, Natural Resource Management Groups, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Growcom and various regional councils, to ensure a collaborative approach between Turf Queensland member farmer’s and the government in making investments that improve water quality outcomes through on farm improvements.  All of these organizations have received direct representation and Turf Queensland industry packs with fact sheets, case studies and other important information as a way of your membership working for you.  It has shown the professionalism and quality of Turf Queensland members in addressing on farm best practice, turf accreditation and environmental controls in both the production and end use of quality natural turfgrass for the successful control of nutrient sediment movement and erosion control.

FACT: The Great Barrier Reef is at our front door and an internationally listed world heritage area as one all the world’s greatest natural treasures.  It is home to 1500 individual fish species containing 2900 distinct briefs.  The great barrier reef plays an important role in the Queensland state economy contributing around $5 billion per annum to the economy through tourism attraction.  It is estimated that around 2 million people visit the great barrier reef every year and collectively we must always continue to work to protect and preserve it for the future.

DID YOU KNOW: Since its commencement in 2008 the Reef Rescue Program has stopped more than 92,000 tonnes of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment, and around 1300 kg of pesticide from leeching into the Great Barrier Reef area (the equivalent of one million wheelbarrows).

The Queensland agricultural industry (in our case turf production) has a major part to play in reducing the leeching effect into our water catchments and ultimately on the reef through on farm best practice management and turf accreditation/quality control that benefits everyone.  Turf Queensland has a number of projects in the pilot stage working on these issues through the Healthy Waterways, Rural Water Use Efficiency (RWUE) and Southeast Queensland Irrigation Futures (SEQIF) programs.

Turf Queensland is currently working with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and developing programs to assist our member companies in this regard with representation being sought on the appropriate steering committees.