Up to $2.5 million is being made available under the $140 million Reef Trust to improve water quality in the Burdekin natural resource management region.
This competitive tender will provide financial support to sugar cane farmers in the Burdekin to improve their nutrient and water management practices across their farms.
The Australian Government applauds the good work sugar cane farmers have been doing and seeks to build on those efforts.
Following the Expression of Interest stage, a reverse auction will be run to allocate funds to successful bidders offering the best value for money projects.
Sugar cane farmers who are successful in the reverse auction will receive funding from 2016 through to 2018.
Australia’s efforts in protecting the Great Barrier Reef were recognised and praised at the UNESCO meeting in Bonn earlier this year where all members of the World Heritage Committee unanimously rejected listing the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’.
This international recognition has only reinforced the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Great Barrier Reef is protected for this and future generations to enjoy.
This funding follows a similar successful project recently rolled out in the Wet Tropics natural resource management region.
NQ Dry Tropics has been appointed as the Service Provider to assist with the delivery of this second competitive tender..
The Australian Government has contracted NQ Dry Tropics to provide local support to sugar cane farmers and assist with the implementation of a two-staged competitive tender, beginning with an Expression of Interest stage opening later this year.
NQ Dry Tropics bring with them strong technical knowledge of sugar cane farming systems in the Burdekin and good established relationships and networks within the region.
Further information is available at www.environment.gov.au/reef-trust
(ENDS)