The health of the Reef starts on the land
On the Atherton Tablelands, a powerful partnership between local landholders, Mamu Traditional Owners, and Tablelands Regional Council is proving that on-farm action is key to improving water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef.
The riparian zone - the vegetation bordering a river or creek - acts as the waterway's most essential filter. Tablelands Regional Council's Environment and Natural Resources Manager Christine Wolf explained that historically, the area was cleared for timber and agriculture, which led to the loss of this vital protective barrier.
"There are plenty of additional benefits of doing riparian restoration projects," said Ms Wolf.
"While the main objective is to improve water quality, and water quality that specifically leads to the Great Barrier Reef, in this case the restoration is also improving habitats.
"We are improving the biodiversity in this area - this project benefits the whole of the Atherton Tablelands."
On-ground action, long-term resilience
The project focused on building trust and long-term sustainability by directly supporting landholders in their efforts to fence off waterways and revegetate the banks. Council's revegetation nursery sourced local seeds to grow thousands of native plants.
The project relied heavily on local expertise, including Rangers from Mamu Aboriginal Rangers.
Ranger Coordinator Matt Gillis said the restoration is vital to their commitment to Country and is a first stepping stone for Mamu to revegetate this area.
"It's good that the Mamu Aboriginal Rangers have been working with the Tablelands Regional Council," said Mr Gillis.
"It helps improve the water quality going to the Reef and Country gets healthy as well because we're increasing the number of trees on the land.
"Healthy Country means healthy people."
The long-term impact is twofold: the restored habitat is now providing critical refuge for endangered local species, and the reduction in sediment run-off is improving the water quality flowing from the Tablelands out to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
Connecting inland action to Reef health
Rhianna Rickard, Strategic Engagement Officer - Reef Guardian Council program at the Reef Authority said that local councils are critical in managing key threats to the Reef like climate change and water quality.
"Tablelands Regional Council is an example of a local government area that doesn't have a coastline - there are no beaches within the council area," said Ms Rickard.
"But what the region does have is incredible creeks and rivers that flow out, eventually, into the Great Barrier Reef.
"This project is important to Reef health because this river that we are restoring is the Beatrice River which flows into the Johnstone River, which flows down through Innisfail and out into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
"We are so excited to see this partnership between Tablelands Regional Council, local landowners and Mamu Traditional Owners."
"Being part of the Reef Guardian Councils program makes you feel connected to the Reef through being connected with the other Reef Guardian Councils as well," said Ms Wolf.
"When you see the on-ground work you see the actual outcomes. Without this funding through the Reef Guardian Council program, we wouldn't have been able to do any of these projects."
This collaboration is a blueprint for successful catchment management under the Reef Guardian Council program, an initiative of the Reef Authority which recognises local governments as key partners in the long-term protection of the Reef.
The program represents more than 1.2 million people and covers more than 76 per cent of the Reef catchment, from K-gari to Cape York.
This project is delivered under the Australian Government's Reef Guardian Council - Activating Local Councils' Reef Action Plans grant program via the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
