The Federal Government has announced an additional $38 million in spending initiatives aimed at improving the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

 

The program, titled Reef Rescue, is a multi-million dollar, five year plan designed to improve water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon to offset the impacts of climate change.

 

Minister for Agriculture, Senator Joe Ludwig, Environment Minister, Tony Burke, and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, today announced funding for water quality grants and partnerships as part of the Reef Rescue program under Caring for our Country.

 

“This brings the total Australian Government investment in this component of Reef Rescue to $158 million,” Minister Ludwig said.

 

“More than 2000 land managers have received water quality grants to date, enabling an additional 1.2 million hectares of land in the reef catchment to be farmed using improved land management practices.”

 

“From 2011–2013, an additional 2300 land managers will receive water quality grants and partnerships funding to help improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.”

 

Dr Kelly said Reef Rescue water quality grants and partnerships funding was delivered through a partnership between the Australian Government, regional natural resource management organisations and agricultural industry peak bodies.