MEDIA RELEASE
20 January 2015
A Reef in Danger – the cost of reversing the decline.
The 6 Reef Regions have today released a report estimating the cost of improving the health of
catchments and quality of water emptying into the Great Barrier Reef at $785 M spread over the next
5 years.
UNESCO, the body responsible for World Heritage Listing, is considering changing the Reef’s status to
“in danger” to which the Australian and Queensland governments have jointly responded with the
Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTSP).
Mike Berwick represents the six Natural Resource Management Regions on the Governments planning
advisory group. He said with this level of investment the main pollutants threatening the reef nitrogen, sediment and agricultural chemicals could be reduced by an estimated 30-35%, 15-20% and
60- 90% respectively from the baseline loads modelled in 2008-2009, by changing farm practice.
“Even this task is ambitious – it assumes about 90% of farmers and agricultural lands will reach the
current definition of best practice. And that is still around half the Governments’ pollutant load
reduction target set for 2018, and a third of the load reduction targets that scientists now estimate is
needed to bring the Reef back to health,” Mr Berwick said.
“This is no easy task - we’re talking about fundamental change to the way we manage a vast landscape
- the Reef and its catchments are double the size Germany or Italy. Substantive investment will need to
continue for the next 15 or 20 years”.
“It is the opinion of the Reef Regions that without investment on this scale the GBR will remain in
danger and continue to decline”.
“The remaining improvement to water quality will have to come from further farm practice innovation,
repairing coastal ecosystems, reducing pollution from coastal, urban and industrial development and
ensuring new development does not add to the problem”.
“While water quality is not the only threat to the Reef, improving it to a standard that will reverse the
decline and bring it back to health is the principal cost facing government, industry and community. It
is the key action we can take now to buffer the Reef from the growing effects of climate change”.
Media enquiries: Mike Berwick M 0419 022 629 or 07 4098 9016
“The new generation WQIP’s show that to improve the Reef’s health will require a whole-ofcatchment focus across rural, urban, and coastal land use. The solutions must be locally tailored but
fitting within a GBR wide agenda”.
“Our modelling shows that the farm and grazing practice changes proposed will improve agricultural
profitability. With tourism, fishing and lifestyles dependent on a healthy reef, this investment would
benefit all sectors.”
Mike Berwick AM, Chair Wet Tropics NRM Region and Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective
0419 022 629 or 07 4098 9016
Background in brief:
Apart from climate change and associated impacts of higher water temperature, increased acidity and
stronger cyclones which are only just becoming evident now, the majority of damage to the Great
Barrier Reef (the Reef) has thus far been caused by land based practices resulting in water quality
pollution, principally from agriculture.
Investment to date has therefore been focussed on reducing pollution loads predominantly within
rural land use systems. Over 2008-2013 GBR related investment in Reef Plan, Reef Rescue, NERP, AIMS,
GBRMPA, CSIRO, JCU , land holders and communities etc. is in excess of $1 billion. It supported practice
change, research and development, monitoring, modelling, engagement and communication.
The joint Australian/Queensland Government Reef Report Card 2008-2013 shows 10% reduction in
annual average total nitrogen load, 11% reduction in annual average sediment load and 28% reduction
in annual average pesticide load. These gains have all been achieved by the farming and grazing
sectors, the people who manage the great majority of the landscape.
In 2006/07 Reef Regions estimated that the cost of reducing nitrogen, sediment and farm chemicals by
25%, 10% and 25% respectively was $275-$500 million over a five year period1. The Australian and
Queensland Governments allocated about half that amount of funding and pollution was reduced by
about half of the nitrogen target (10% Total nitrogen, but 16% dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen) but still
achieved the targets for sediment (11%) and chemicals (28%)2. So the region’s estimates were about
right and they’ve learned a lot since then.
1
Marsden Jacob Associates, 2013. Draft report on the economic and social impacts of protecting environmental values in
Great Barrier Reef catchment waterways and the reef lagoon” Report prepared for Queensland Department of Environment
and Heritage Protection. https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/water/policy/pdf/draft-protecting-ev-gbr-catchment.pdf’
2
Reef Plan Paddock to Reef Report Card, 2008-2013. http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/measuring-success/reportcards/2012-2013-report-card.aspx
Media enquiries: Mike Berwick M 0419 022 629 or 07 4098 9016
The reductions achieved to date are modest compared to the pollutant load reductions needed to save
the Reef but as the only positive indicator of Reef health, they are a fantastic step forward. All others –
for example coral and sea grass cover, water temperature and acidity - are declining.
The latest figures are based on a second generation of Water Quality Improvement Plans and 9 years
of experience. The WQIPs are a catchment by catchment assessment of in stream water quality,
environmental health, pollution load, its source and the cost to fix it. Three new generation WQIPs
have been finished but not published, the other three are underway so once complete, figures from
those three regions may need some adjustment.
Apart from climate change, there are other existing or emergent impacts and threats – coastal
development, fishing, shipping, dredging and spoil disposal, ports, accidents, exotic pests from ballast
water, ……….. the list goes on - but the key focus ones, the expensive ones, the game changers are
water quality (rural and urban) and ecosystem repair.
There will be other costs, specifically for local government, for example revised development
conditions, Water Sensitive Urban Design, climate adaptation, sewerage treatment and council
training.
Mike Berwick represents the six Reef Regions on the Program Partnership Group advising the Federal
and State Ministers for the Environment on the Long Term Sustainability Plan. This Report was initiated
as input to the LTSP has been circulated to other members.
Interview
Mike Berwick AM, Chair Wet Tropics NRM Region and
Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective
0419 022 629 or 07 4098 9016
Media enquiries: Mike Berwick M 0419 022 629 or 07 4098 9016