15 Aug 2018
As nations, organisations and individuals celebrate 2018 as the International Year of the Reef, questions continue to be raised about the Australian Government’s $444 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF). About $200 million of this money is expected to be invested in improving water quality. As the media storm descends, the agricultural sector is getting on with the job by implementing new and innovative strategies to improve water quality for the future of the Reef.
Through QFF-facilitated projects, such as the ‘Reef Alliance Growing a Great Barrier Reef’ project and the ‘Agricultural Extension Work Placement’ initiative, farmers continue to improve practices and upgrade on-farm infrastructure to reduce run-off, and the foundations and pathways for new extension officers are being put in place. These important actions are improving the quality of the water leaving the farm and are contributing to the health and resilience of the Reef.
Collaborative, cross-industry and sector partnerships underpin these projects. And the people on the ground are key to their success. This week in Townsville, more than 100 reef extension officers gathered at the Reef Extension Forum organised by the QFF-led Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance and the Reef Alliance with support from government to share knowledge, experiences, and improve their capacity to deliver extension in the reef catchments.
QFF has worked hard to bring various industry and government workforce and environmental management initiatives together so they become more integrated, create efficiencies, avoid duplication and deliver better outcomes for farmers.
While the politics and probity around the GBRF grant has consumed the Reef public discourse, it is important that we continually recognise and acknowledge the positive commitments and efforts farmers, extension officers and community members are making daily to improve land management practices. Their actions ensure farming has a strong and sustainable future alongside the Reef.
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