Managing urban run-off to the Reef
Urban areas cover less than one per cent of the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
Yet stormwater run-off from urban and industrial land use and wastewater treatment plant releases on average contribute around seven per cent of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and close to two per cent of the fine sediment that flows to the Reef lagoon. In some parts of the catchment, loads from urban land use are significantly higher than this as detailed in a study that identified priority catchments for urban water management investment.
In addition to the impact on the Reef, how we manage urban run-off also has an impact on our local waterways and the community benefits that they provide.
Who manages urban run-off?
Urban run-off is a shared responsibility between state and local governments, the development and construction industry and water service providers. Support is also provided by peak bodies such as the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), water industry bodies and natural resource management organisations.
Local government is responsible for managing wastewater treatment, as well as erosion control and stormwater management measures in line with Queensland Government legislation.
Responsibility for compliance for erosion control and stormwater management is devolved to local government, who must ensure that urban land development carried out by industry meets legislative requirements.
Wastewater treatment plants are an Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) and facilities need to be managed in accordance with licence conditions. The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation manages licence approvals and compliance.
The Queensland Government supports and invests in a range of initiatives and activities to support industry and councils to reduce run-off to the Reef from urban land use activities.
Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund
The $24 million Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund is a joint initiative between the Queensland and Australian governments.
The Fund supports the trial and commercialisation of novel, affordable and effective treatment systems that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in wastewater, stormwater and urban run-off flowing to the Great Barrier Reef from our urban landscapes.
It has three key focus areas – a wastewater grant program and a stormwater challenge, both to be delivered in 2026, and an erosion and sediment component to be delivered in 2027.
Case studies with lessons learnt will also be one of the outcomes of the Fund. You can view examples below from the Cleaner Wastewater Initiative – a precursor to the Fund.
View the Mackay North Water Recycling Facility Nutrient Offsets Education Package 4.2 MB).
View the Bohle River Offsets Roadmap Education Package 2.4 MB).
Legislation and discharge standards
Under the Reef protection regulations, all new, expanded or intensified point source activities are required to meet discharge standards to ensure there is no increase in nutrients flowing to the Reef above current licence limits.
If this can’t be achieved through design or operating conditions, the Point Source Offsets Policy allows councils to use nutrient offset schemes.
Improved monitoring and better understanding
The Water Tracking and Electronic Reporting System (WaTERS) captures and assesses release monitoring data from wastewater treatment plants across Queensland. This information is incorporated into the Catchment Loads Model underpinning the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program.
The Great Barrier Reef Metadata Dashboard provides information on the location, nature and number of point source activities and facilities across the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
Sewage treatment plant nutrient load contributions and water quality risk have been assessed and leading practice for wastewater treatment plants has been defined with regards to end of pipe release water nutrient concentrations, energy use, and cost per equivalent person.
Skills and capacity building
The GBR Erosion and Sediment Control and Urban Stormwater Capacity Building program delivered by Healthy Land and Water – Water by Design provides training, education material, system reviews and knowledge sharing through community of practice forums such as the Reef Urban Stormwater Management Group.
Healthy Land and Water – Water by Design also creates and maintains a large suite of guidance materials underpinning effective erosion and sediment control and water sensitive urban design online, which industry use to deliver on-ground work.
Bench-marking framework
The Urban Water Stewardship Framework (framework) helps councils and the development and construction industry to evaluate level of practice for their urban water management practices and activities.
Assessment has been undertaken every two years since 2020 with 19 of the 30 local councils in the Great Barrier Reef catchment participating.
Through the assessment, councils are able to prioritise different aspects of their urban water management and track the effectiveness of intervention strategies over time.
View the Urban Water Stewardship Framework Summary Findings:
- 2024/2025 Round Summary Findings 248.7 KB)
- 2022/2023 Round Summary Findings 256.4 KB)
- 2020/2021 Round Summary Findings 1.2 MB).
For more information on the framework’s history, purpose and scope, please refer to the Urban Water Stewardship Framework Factsheet 329.1 KB).