Breakthrough in Great Barrier Reef water quality project

Greening Australia has announced the results from a key phase of its Reef Aid program, with a trial to reduce sediment flowing onto the Great Barrier Reef resulting in a 97 per cent improvement in water quality at the site – a property three hours south of Townsville.

Known as the Gully Remediation Project (the Project), the trial is taking place at the Strathalbyn Station, a property three hours south of Townsville.

Greening Australia is working with the Queensland Government’s Great Barrier Reef Innovation Fund and the station’s landholders, the Hughes family, on the Gully Remediation Project.

With the Federal Government recently setting aside $200 million of its $500 million rescue package for the Great Barrier Reef to improve the reef’s water quality, the results of the project are set to have a positive impact for the health of the reef.

Greening Australia Program Adviser, Damon Telfer, noted that the gullies targeted at Strathalbyn Station have exported on average 956 tonnes per hectare per year since 1945, equating to a staggering 550 000 tonnes of sediment to the Burdekin over that period, of which at least 65 per cent is capable of reaching the Great Barrier Reef.

“To date, rigorous scientific and economic cost-benefit evaluations of this type of gully remediation has been very limited, so this project is crucial to improving our restoration techniques, cost effectiveness and ultimately the health of the reef,” Mr Telfer said.

Launched in 2016 alongside advocate and Virgin Australia founder, Sir Richard Branson, Greening Australia’s flagship Reef Aid project aims to rebuild eroding gullies and restore vital coastal wetlands across the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Brendan Foran, CEO of Greening Australia, said: “Since launching the public fundraising appeal for Reef Aid two years ago with the support of Virgin Australia, we’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response from the government, private donors and partners. Protecting the reef demands big investment, yet it is an imperative that we are looking after one of Australia’s greatest icons for future generations to enjoy.”

Greening Australia aims to secure $132 million by 2030. It will also raise funds from its private supporters, including from Virgin Australia, whose support to date has been significant in its catalytic effect in the first phase of the Reef Aid program.

Virgin Australia General Manager of Group Sustainability, Rob Wood, said that Virgin Australia is passionate about conserving one of the biggest natural ecosystems on earth.

“Virgin Australia is focused on supporting projects that provide practical solutions and our partnership with Greening Australia is helping to make a real difference to improving the reef’s water quality.”

“The Reef Aid project has achieved fantastic results to date and we are very pleased to be a supporter of this program” Mr Wood said.

On 8 June, Virgin Australia will mark World Oceans Day by fundraising at its major ports, while its pilots will raise awareness of the issue with on-board announcements on flights over the reef.

Greening Australia is now seeking support to significantly scale up the project to play an integral role in meeting the goals set out in the Australian and Queensland Governments’ Reef 2050 Plan, which includes a 50 per cent reduction in sediment load by 2030.

Based on the success of the latest trial program, Greening Australia plans to roll out the techniques used at Strathalbyn to erosion hotspots along the reef.

To donate to Reef Aid, visit reefaid.org.au