Queensland Reef and Catchment Water Quality Program
The Queensland Government is committed to safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef, which is under increasing pressure from a range of threats, including poor water quality. Sediment, nutrients, and pesticides impact the health of coral and seagrass ecosystems. By addressing these issues, we can strengthen the Reef’s resilience and ensure its long-term health.
A renewed commitment to protecting the Reef
In June 2026, the Queensland Government announced an additional $330.5 million until 2031 for the new Queensland Reef and Catchment Water Quality Program (QRCWQP).
Aligned to the joint Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy, the five-year investment program continues to build on the significant progress made working in partnership with industry, landholders, communities and Traditional Owners.
The program supports industry-led initiatives, innovative solutions, and on-ground action to improve water quality and strengthen the Reef’s resilience.
The Queensland Government funds a range of programs and projects including:
- Regional on-ground program of work that expands the place-based integrated projects approach and includes regional bridging funding to continue the Sugarcane Practice Change Program and Grazing Practice Change Program which provide tailored support for growers and graziers.
- Voluntary best management practice and incentives programs including Smartcane BMP, Banana BMP, Hort360 BMP and Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions.
- Grain Sediment Reduction Program supporting practice change to reduce sediment loss from dry land broadacre and forage cropping in the Fitzroy.
- Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program.
- Reef protection regulations including compliance.
- Research and science projects across grazing, sugarcane and horticulture such as the Banana nutrient trials.
- Fine Scale Water Quality Monitoring Program providing local and timely water quality data to demonstrate how land management practices influence water quality.
- Streambank remediation and gully remediation.
- Reef Assist program delivering landscape repair projects and creating regional jobs and training opportunities across the Reef catchment.
- Innovative approaches to managing urban run-off including the Queensland and Australian governments’ Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund.
- Reef Traditional Owner Taskforce.
- Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) coordination.
- Wetlands management to implement the Queensland Wetlands Program and the Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy.
- Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program which provides active nest protection and predator control for marine turtle hatchlings.
- Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program which provides the framework for evaluating and reporting progress towards the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy and Reef water quality report cards to track progress towards these targets.
- Regional report card partnerships.
- Support tools including land use mapping, nutrient offsetting and Reef science.
For more information on the previous Queensland Reef Water Quality Program (QRWQP) including detailed information on investment visit QRWQP annual reports and investment plans and other background documents.
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