Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management in
collaboration with Central Queensald University and River
Consulting, is implementing an innovative scheme for cane growers
and graziers in the Lower Burdekin. With the The scheme is worth a
total of $600,000. It offers rewards for farmers
for undertaking verifiable actions taken towards improving water
quality.
All cane growers in the Lower Burdekin and graziers
in the Haughton River, Barratta Creek, Stone Creek and Landers
Creek catchments are invited to participate and join the growing
number of people working to protect Queensland’s
playground— the Great Barrier Reef. Improving water quality
is a key strategy to securing the health of the Great Barrier Reef
and its multi billion dollar contribution to the regional economy
through tourism, commercial fishing and cultural and recreational
activities.
The Lower Burdekin Water Quality Tender is a new type of
incentive scheme. It is similar to a grant scheme—with one
important difference: Instead of prescribing actions and offering
fixed premiums, the Tender scheme allows landholders to tailor
their submissions to their situations.
A submission includes a description of the action(s) that the
landholder proposes to implement to improve water quality and the
amount of money which the landholder wants to receive from the NRM
body to finance the associated costs.
With the land management practice information collected, the
research team (Central Queensland University & River
Consulting) have calculated the most cost-effective
bids that will guide the selection of successful
projects. Hence, the successful landholders can
provide the most quality improvements at the lowest
costs.
Eligible landholders have recieved technical
assistance from extension officers from DPI&F and BSES to
develop their submissions.
For media enquiries contact Scott Crawford at 4724 3544 or
scott.crawford@bdtnrm.org.au.
Watch this space for further information
coming in the next week