Celebrating the acheivements of the Reef Rescue program

In October the reef alliance which has been a partnership between industry bodies and natural resource management groups will launch a reef impact statement at Parliament House in Canberra. Senator The Hon. Joe Ludwig Minister of for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and The Hon. Tony Burke MP Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities will together receive the Impact Statement which reports on the outcomes Australian Government’s Reef Rescue Program. A number of farmers will be representing their industries and regions showcasing their achievements and discussing some of the impacts of Reef Rescue funding directly with Australian Government MP’s and Senator’s.
In 2007, the Australian government announced a $200 million Reef Rescue Program to improve water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef. Four years later, Reef Rescue has become the flagship of the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program, and arguably one of its most successful initiatives, with a high level of stakeholder engagement and support.
The impact statement will substantiate and celebrate the Reef Rescue achievements so far. This includes an unprecedented uptake of new farm management practices. These practices have reduced sediment, nutrient and pesticide run-off into waterways and have indirectly spurred unexpected social and economic benefits, technological innovations, and vibrant and innovative partnerships.
The success of the first three years of Reef Rescue implementation is a direct result of the determination and leadership of the Reef Alliance partnership, which is a consortium of six Regional Natural Resource Management groups and five Industry peak bodies. Together, these partners share information, resources and ideas, and mix their respective skill sets and expertise to deliver the program. One of the main legacies of Reef Rescue is that partnerships such as the Reef Alliance are now seen as the benchmark for NRM delivery in Australia.
Reef Alliance members have been on the phone, on the road, in the paddock and at the kitchen table – meeting with people, previously unaware of Reef Rescue and now engaged. Famers are managing the environmental risks on the farms as best they can; these types of programs help serve to accelerate the uptake and coordinate the efforts of all involved. Industry recognises that there is still work to be done. Farmers are constantly looking for options and technology that improve on farm management practices to protect water quality and maintain their economic viability. Achieving these outcomes is often a win-win for business and the environment.
QFF believes that farmers understand that the sustainable management of their farms goes hand in hand with continuing to ensure good outcomes for the reef. It is not unreasonable to ask that in order to acknowledge this commitment farmers should also be given the security to continue to grow their businesses in such a way that insures they have confidence to invest in the future as well. We are proud of the Reef Alliance and its achievements to date and we’re confident the final two years of the program will see continued high levels of engagement and enhanced water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef.
What makes Reef Rescue work so well, is its partnership approach. In the delivery we have industry groups, farmers and our regional natural resource management groups working hand-in-hand to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Importantly, while they have not had a major role in the delivery of reef rescue it was also the endorsement and contribution of the conservation sector represented by the world wildlife fund (WWF) that made the design of the reef rescue program robust and credibility.
It goes without saying that these outcomes would not be possible without committed farmers and the financial support of the Australian Government that has begun to recognise that farmers are critical to providing solutions.