Reef water quality protection plan must introduce key reforms
23 May 2003
BRISBANE: The Federal and State governments draft Reef Water Quality Protection Plan must set out an agenda of key reforms necessary to reduce threats to the Great Barrier Reef, says WWF-Australia.
The draft plan, which aims to halt and reverse land-based pollution of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area by 2010, is due to be released by the Federal and Queensland governments in Brisbane later today.
"WWF will be looking for key reforms that will prioritize actions according to their capacity to reduce threats to the Reef," said Imogen Zethoven, WWF-Australia Great Barrier Reef campaign manager.
Ms Zethoven said key reforms should include:
- Regulatory protection for wetlands in the Great Barrier reef catchment
- Stronger regulations to protect riparian vegetation
- Powers to declare areas as either nutrient sensitive zones or sediment sensitive zones
- A requirement to develop property management plans within these zones, based on best management practice
- Targets and timelines that demonstrate the urgency of the problem facing many inshore reefs
- Incentives for farmers to implement best management practices
- Preferred access to government assistance programs based on best management practice
"The Plan must ensure that action and funds are directed at catchments or subcatchments that present the highest risk to inshore reefs and other inshore ecosystems," Ms Zethoven said.
"Many inshore reefs have become seriously degraded in recent years, due to runoff from poor agricultural practices.
"The Reef is thought of as a place of great beauty and inspiration by Australians and many people around the world, yet research shows that many inshore reefs are losing their biodiversity due to agricultural runoff."
Ms Zethoven said tourism, commercial and recreational fishing all depended on a healthy and productive Reef system.
"The capacity of these sectors to keep generating jobs and wealth for regional Queensland is being affected by the degradation of this extraordinary natural resource." she said.
