Burdekin Regional Water Quality Science Forum

  • Townsville,
    19 September, 2024

All the presentations…

More than 80 people attended the Burdekin Region Water Quality Science Forum to hear what the latest science tells us about water quality in the Great Barrier Reef, and how local on-ground actions in the Burdekin help to improve water quality.

 
The forum included discussion sessions with stakeholders to seek feedback as part of the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan review and the preparation of the Burdekin Region Water Quality Strategy.
 
It was an opportunity for Burdekin stakeholders to share experiences and views about how to improve local water quality and the health of the Burdekin catchment to support a healthy reef.
 
A huge thank you to the 16 speakers who presented on a wide range of topics including:
  • 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement.
  • 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
  • Paddock to Reef Program.
  • Local management practice change and on-ground projects.
  • Indigenous engagement in water quality decision making.
  • Burdekin Region Water Quality Strategy (planning overview).
 
The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan is being reviewed and the forum provided discussion sessions with stakeholders to seek feedback as part of the review process.
 
This forum was jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland government’s Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program and the Australian government’s Reef Trust program.

Chair of the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics Keith Noble, left, with CEO NQ Dry Tropics Scott Crawford.

Photographs taken during the forum

Forum presenters: Front, left to right, Donna Turner, NQ Dry Tropics, Jane Waterhouse, C2O Consulting, Karen Vidler, NQ Dry Tropics, Maria Rosier, Officer of the Great Barrier Reef, Eddie Smallwood, Gudjuda Reference Group, middle row, Trinity Georgetown, NQ Dry Tropics, Terry Granshaw, Sugar Research Australia (SRA), Dr Steve Lewis, TropWATER, James Cook University, Angus Hogg, NQ Dry Tropics, Rob Hunt, NQ Dry Tropics. Shaneel Chandra, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI).
Online presenters included Dr Peter Thorburn, CSIRO, Dr Andrew Negri, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Tom Espinoza and Conway Burns, Burnett Mary Regional Group.

Colleen James, Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), Anthony Curro, Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), centre, and Brett King, NQ Dry Tropics.

Pictured, from left are: Fiona Salter, Sunwater, Terry Williams, Burdekin River Irrigation Area (BRIA) and Bernie Claussen, NQ Dry Tropics. 

David Sartori, Lower Burdekin Water, left, and Rob Milla, Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS).

NQ Dry Tropics Cultural Fire Officer Trinity Georgetown with TOMG members Josephine Smallwood, Wangan Jagalingou, centre, and Virginia Wyles, Wulgurukaba.

Michelle Sangricoli, Department of Natural Resources with Chris Poole, NQ Dry Tropics.

EYES FRONT…  speakers at the forum were met with a very engaged audience. More than 80 people attended.

Pictured, from left, are: Carleigh Drew, NQ Dry Tropics, Kerry Sutton, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and Bronte Claussen, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

Pictured, from left, are: Hamideh Noory, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), Melanie Shaw, (DESI), Steve Attard, AgriTech Solutions and Brittany Butler, Townsville Port. 

Pictured, from left, are: James Spragg, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), and Tristan Gibson, Michael Hobbs and Angus Hogg of NQ Dry Tropics.

Pictured, from left, are: Ben Preston, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Ben Ferguson, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), Bern Hogan, (DESI), and Thijs Krugers, NQ Dry Tropics.