Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan

The 2014-2021 Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) undertaken by Reef Catchments aims to ensure water quality is suitable for human uses and aquatic ecosystem protection. This plan builds on the 2008 WQIP and describes management interventions for rehabilitation of priority habitats and reduction of pollutant loads from diffuse and point sources. If resourced and implemented, this plan will improve the water quality and ecological health of the waterways, estuaries, wetlands, and the Great Barrier Reef within the Mackay Whitsunday region.

Catchment Solutions staff were actively involved in the development of water quality current condition (2014), targets (2021) and objectives (2050) for 33 freshwater sub-catchments and 8 marine receiving-water environments. Load reduction targets were developed from a combination of modelling and water quality data, and the likely reductions that could be expected from widespread adoption of land management practices. A monitoring and management plan was developed to:

• Measure the adoption of improved management practices;
• Determine and validate relationships between improved management practices, water quality improvement, and ecosystem health;
• Measure the change in water quality and ecosystem health; and
• Investigate water quality issues of concern to the community as part of on-going community related activities in the region.

Client – RCL for Australian Government