projects. Reef Trust projects contracted through the phase two and phase three investment programs contribute to: investments to help sugar cane farmers improve land management practices reducing erosion in grazing lands and managing the impact of erosion from gullies improving water quality in the grains, dairy and horticulture industries helping to control crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on reefs with high tourism value. Reef investment strategy phase three was released on 4 December 2015. On 23 April 2016, the Government announced $11 million in funding through phase three for projects to improve water quality. On 26 April 2016, the Government announced $50 million in funding for water quality improvement projects led by the Queensland Farmers Federation in partnership with members of the Reef Alliance. Water quality will continue to be the focus of Reef Trust investment: $106.4 million is to be allocated over four years to 2018–19. Figure 2.1: Great Barrier Reef pollutant load reductions Criterion Any EPBC Act approved offset delivered the Reef Trust maintains or improves the condition of matters of national and state environmental significance Result Data/information not available or incomplete Reef Trust offset activities are expected to start in late 2016. The Department has progressed negotiations with three offset approval holders. As at 30 June 2016, $1.5 million in offset funds had been paid into the Reef Trust Special Account. Criterion The Reef maintains its diversity of species and ecological habitats with a stable to improving Result Data/information not available or incomplete While there is considerable ongoing investment in activities to improve the condition of the Reef, to date our ability to monitor the impact of this investment on species and habitats has been limited. In July 2015, the Australian Government announced it would invest $8 million in the development of an integrated monitoring and reporting program for the Reef 2050 plan. The monitoring and reporting program will enable assessment of the effectiveness of actions and investments to protect and restore the Reef’s values, address threats and ensure development and use of the Reef remains ecologically sustainable. It will monitor biophysical, heritage, water quality, social and economic changes that affect the Reef. This will inform an adaptive management approach to the Reef 2050 plan. The program is being developed collaboratively by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian and Queensland governments and scientific, industry and community partners. Objective: Encourage community participation in protecting and conserving Australia’s nationally protected environment and heritage Criterion Increase in the level of participation, skill-development or employment of Indigenous Australians, through natural resource management projects Result Achieved
projects. Reef Trust projects contracted through the phase two and phase three investment programs contribute to: investments to help sugar cane farmers improve land management practices reducing erosion in grazing lands and managing the impact of erosion from gullies improving water quality in the grains, dairy and horticulture industries helping to control crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on reefs with high tourism value. Reef investment strategy phase three was released on 4 December 2015. On 23 April 2016, the Government announced $11 million in funding through phase three for projects to improve water quality. On 26 April 2016, the Government announced $50 million in funding for water quality improvement projects led by the Queensland Farmers Federation in partnership with members of the Reef Alliance. Water quality will continue to be the focus of Reef Trust investment: $106.4 million is to be allocated over four years to 2018–19. Figure 2.1: Great Barrier Reef pollutant load reductions Criterion Any EPBC Act approved offset delivered the Reef Trust maintains or improves the condition of matters of national and state environmental significance Result Data/information not available or incomplete Reef Trust offset activities are expected to start in late 2016. The Department has progressed negotiations with three offset approval holders. As at 30 June 2016, $1.5 million in offset funds had been paid into the Reef Trust Special Account. Criterion The Reef maintains its diversity of species and ecological habitats with a stable to improving Result Data/information not available or incomplete While there is considerable ongoing investment in activities to improve the condition of the Reef, to date our ability to monitor the impact of this investment on species and habitats has been limited. In July 2015, the Australian Government announced it would invest $8 million in the development of an integrated monitoring and reporting program for the Reef 2050 plan. The monitoring and reporting program will enable assessment of the effectiveness of actions and investments to protect and restore the Reef’s values, address threats and ensure development and use of the Reef remains ecologically sustainable. It will monitor biophysical, heritage, water quality, social and economic changes that affect the Reef. This will inform an adaptive management approach to the Reef 2050 plan. The program is being developed collaboratively by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian and Queensland governments and scientific, industry and community partners. Objective: Encourage community participation in protecting and conserving Australia’s nationally protected environment and heritage Criterion Increase in the level of participation, skill-development or employment of Indigenous Australians, through natural resource management projects Result Achieved
annual-report-2015-16-environment-heritage.docx