Latest news

Sarina Beach.

Comment on the Draft Sarina Beach Local Coastal Plan

Reef Catchments, in partnership with Mackay Regional Council, has completed the DRAFT Sarina Beach Local Coast Plan (LCP) ...
Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region, second edition.

Weeds book on sale now

Out now! The second edition of Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region is now available. The cost is ...
View of islands off the coast of Mackay.

Youth Ambassadors program underway

Our Youth Ambassador program helps to shape our conservation leaders of the future, by empowering them to deliver their ...
People next to cane fields.

Soil Conservation Field Walk roundup

Soil conservation professionals, John Day and Geoff Titmarsh, provided a wealth of information to the attendees at the ...
Fish barriers on creek in Mackay.

Calling all Natural Resource Management Industry professionals!

Reef Catchments has multiple roles available and is seeking expressions of interest. All the details are here.
Trent Power and Carlos Bueno next to water.

Breaking down barriers to help increase the fish population

Almost half of the fish species in the Mackay Whitsunday region can live in both freshwater and saltwater ...
Long-reach excavator clearing weeds.

Long reach excavator targets wetland weeds

Reef Catchments is working to protect and restore wetlands south of Mackay, assisting landholders in the Sandringham Wetland ...
Sandringham wetlands.

Annual Report RCL 2022-2023

Reef Catchments is proud to present our Annual Report for the 2022-2023 Financial Year. It's been a busy ...
aerial shot of green canefields

Annual Report RCL 2021-2022

Reef Catchments is proud to present our Annual Report for the 2021-2022 Financial Year. We invite you to ...
Aerial view of an island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Annual Report RCL 2020-2021

Reef Catchments proudly presents our Annual Report for the 2020-2021 Financial Year. We invite you to read about ...
Treatment train on Cowleys Creek.

Wetland treatment train

Reef Catchments was awarded funding from the Queensland Government DEHP to study the water quality benefits of constructed ...
Marine classroom students in front of South Cumberland Islands sign.

Marine classroom on Scawfell Island

Students from Sarina State High School were treated to a trip of a lifetime aboard SV Whitehaven out ...
Revegetation above river.

Community Action Plan (Protect the Great Barrier Reef!)

Reef Catchments worked with the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac community to develop a Community Action Plan to protect the ...

Frequently Asked Questions MWWQP

FAQ 1. How long is the program? The Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program is a four-year program which ...
Aerial view of Dumbleton Weir.

Annual Report RCL 2019-2020

Reef Catchments proudly presents our Annual Report for the 2019-2020 Financial Year. We invite you to read about ...
Mobile phone showing Reef Catchments information.

Change to our phone system

Reef Catchments has changed their telephone system. Direct landlines to staff are no longer in use, however our ...
Woman surrounded by vegetation.

Coastcare newsletters new and old

Conservation and Communities E-news, previously Coasts and Communities E-news 2023 SUMMER 2023 2022 SPRING 2022 WINTER 2022 AUTUMN ...
Aerial view of ocean and coral.

Tourism operators reignite water quality monitoring program

Easing of COVID-19 restrictions sparked a return to action for Whitsunday tour boat operators involved in a citizen ...
Students wearing scuba gear in the sea.

What Reef Catchments has achieved

Reef Catchments has worked alongside landholders and partner organisations since 2000. We are proud of our regional footprint ...
Juvenile barramundi and adult.

Record numbers of young barramundi found migrating into wetlands

Juvenile barramundi are on the move in the Mackay region. Recent monitoring of fish ladders, situated in the ...
Close up of cane.

Reef Catchments to oversee major water quality improvement program

The local not-for-profit natural resource management organisation, Reef Catchments, is overseeing an exciting four-year program which will benefit ...
Coral growing underwater.

Tourism operators turn into citizen scientists to monitor reef water quality

Tourism operators in the Whitsundays are collecting data through a citizen science project to keep track of the ...
A hand holding rich soil.

Topsoil expert is guest speaker at Healthy Soils Symposium

Reef Catchments is inviting primary producers and industry representatives along to an annual event promoting healthy soil within ...
Treatment train with rocks.

The quality of water

Read all about it! The Water Quality Summary for 2017-2019 for the Bakers Creek repair site is now ...
Healthy vegetable garden.

Could Syntropic Farming work for you?

Reef Catchments recently sent Wendy Eiteneuer from Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group Inc to Cairns to take part ...
Men with mesh container on water.

31,000 fish all in a day’s work

Tens of thousands of fish have been recorded flowing through constructed fishways in Mackay. Fisheries ecologists say the ...

Baby barramundi ascending

Following fishway monitoring in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, sampling on Boundary Creek in the Rocky Dam Creek Catchment in ...
Matt Moore and rocks.

Botanic Gardens works improve life for local fish

Catchment Solutions Matt Moore and Reef Catchments Manager Katrina Dent with Mackay Regional Parks and Environment Councillor Theresa ...
Simon Mattsson and sunflowers.

Case study: Tackling declines in sugar productivity through innovation and soil health

Marian cane farmer, Simon Mattsson, is trialling the use of multi-crop species including sunflowers to improve soil health ...

Channel erosion work underway on the O’Connell

Work by Reef Catchments on land adjoining the O'Connell River aims to make a significant difference to water ...

Case Study: Stabilising stream banks along the O’Connell River

Management Interventions to improve Ecosystem Health  Case Study – Alluvium Consulting Report to stabilise stream banks along the ...
Two hands and soil.

A Little Help From Our Friends

- Article provided by Rob Eccles, Sustainable Agriculture Manager, Catchment Solutions Is there no good microbe other than ...
People in paddock planting trees.

5000 seedlings in the ground at Racecourse Mill

Phase two of a major wetland restoration project near Racecourse Mill is underway, with more than 5000 seedlings ...
Tilapia, a pest fish.

Community ‘Tilapia Watch’ best way to slow the spread

They are an exotic fish that are considered to be one of the worst pest species in Australia ...
Sand walkway on beach front.

Beach staircases set to help stabilise Mackay dunes

Kite-boarders, walkers and beach-goers can now enjoy eco friendly access to Town Beach, thanks to improved beach planning. ...
Man in paddock.

Controlled burn reduces wildfire risk and helps restore natural balance

The success of a major controlled burn in North Queensland has helped demonstrate the value of fire as ...

Collecting field data on local rivers

Reef Catchments has been working with Australian Rivers Institute Geomorphologists collecting field data from areas of streambank failure ...

Collaborating to protect the rare Proserpine rock-wallaby

The sailing catamaran ‘Wild Cat’ left Mackay Marina before dawn. Crewed by Wild Mob and Reef Catchments staff, ...

Collaborating across boundaries: the Role of Ecological Knowledge, Landscape Values and Ecosystem Services in the Riverine River Restoration Programs

In 2011, twenty-one land managers from the Gregory River catchment participated in a survey conducted by Reef Catchments ...