A new $30 million investment under the Reefwise Farming Program will support targeted actions to improve Great Barrier Reef water quality by reducing nutrient and pesticide pollution in key agricultural catchments. The funding will help landholders adopt practices that limit pollutant runoff and support healthier reef ecosystems.
The program supports four major regional projects in catchments where land management has a direct influence on downstream reef water quality. The aim is to reduce the volume of agriculturally sourced nitrogen, sediment and chemical residues entering Queensland waterways during rainfall events.
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How the program improves Great Barrier Reef water quality
NQ Dry Tropics will receive $7.5 million to support irrigation efficiency upgrades on Lower Burdekin cane farms. The project will help reduce nutrient and chemical losses to groundwater and surface water, a key pathway for pollutants entering coastal zones.
A further $7.4 million will go to Reef Catchments to assist cane growers in the Mackay Whitsunday region with improved agronomy services. This includes tailored nutrient and chemical management plans and upgrades to farm equipment that limit off-farm losses.
Burnett Mary Regional Group has been allocated $7.48 million to expand precision agriculture capabilities and work with Traditional Owners on riparian restoration. These actions aim to reduce nitrogen loads reaching the coast while strengthening local habitat.
Terrain NRM will receive $7.5 million to help cane growers in the Wet Tropics region optimise fertiliser application and improve pest and disease management. The approach is expected to improve yields while cutting downstream nutrient and pesticide impacts.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said improving Great Barrier Reef water quality is essential for sustaining reef ecosystems.
“Nutrient and pesticide pollution from nearby farms is one of the biggest threats to the Reef. Poor water quality stops coral from regrowing, kills seagrass, and blocks the sunlight needed for a healthy reef,” he said.
Watt said the investment will also support productivity on farms while promoting more sustainable practices.
Assistant Minister for Tourism and Northern Australia Nita Green said the measures will support long term resilience.
“Protecting the Reef means protecting Queensland jobs. Supporting landholders to do their part means we’re building partnerships and the Reef’s resilience,” she said.
Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said strong collaboration between farmers and government will be vital.
“Far North Queensland is home to great farmers who are also passionate about our Reef, so I’m glad we can stand with them,” he said.
Smith said the Reef’s economic value makes action urgent.
Part of a larger effort to protect the Reef
The program runs until 2027–28 and forms part of the Australian Government’s Reef Trust investments under the Reef 2050 Plan. It also contributes to the government’s broader $1.2 billion package to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
By backing regionally tailored approaches, the funding aims to deliver measurable water quality improvements at the catchment scale. This will support the Reef’s ecological health while helping producers remain resilient as market needs and environmental expectations evolve.