Reef Water Quality

CANEGROWERS continues to support initiatives and projects that minimise risks to water quality, where these initiatives are voluntary, proportionate to the environmental risk, and consistent with an economically sustainable sugarcane industry.

Over the past decade, growers have significantly reduced impacts on water quality through changes in farming practices such as trash retention, improved efficiency of fertiliser and pesticide inputs, and improved irrigation practices. Some of this practice change occurred through participation in one or more of the Reef Rescue, Reef Trust, or Queensland Government programs operating since 2008.

However, instead of recognition for their efforts, growers have been consistently labelled as poor farmers in a series of Report Cards on reef water quality. These reports are deeply flawed. For example, a good rating for growers requires universal adoption of practices, many of which are either uneconomic or of uncertain value for growers.

The arrangements under the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan require major reforms if industry confidence is to be restored and its ongoing participation secured.

The CANEGROWERS policy outlines the required reforms. Click here to read the policy.

Key areas of work: