Archives for July 2019

Communications

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This communications update, presented to the RCL July 2019 Board Meeting, noted numerous events which were organised and presented during the preceding two months.

The events, noted chronologically, included a rainfall simulation demonstration, the Mackay Marina Run, Seagrass monitoring, Mackay Show, Litter Trap Audit, St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend, a visit from the Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, and the Mackay-Whitsunday Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership report card launch.

Pictured is the Reef Catchments team of runners who took part in the Mackay Marina Run at the Mackay Harbour. The runners took part in the five kilometre corporate challenge and everyone who started also finished the course.

The quality of water

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Read all about it! The Water Quality Summary for 2017-2019 for the Bakers Creek repair site has just been released.

Bakers Creek System Repair Site – Water Quality Summary 2017-2019

Reef Catchments is undertaking a four year study of the water quality benefits of a constructed wetland treatment train at Bakers Creek. Treatment trains use natural processes to eliminate runoff pollutants like sediment and nutrients, ensuring cleaner water to the catchment, rivers and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef.

Constructed wetland treatment trains use multiple chambers to treat water as it moves through the individual structures or basins. Included within the structures is a shallow macrophytes zone where reeds take up nutrients for their own growth. A biofilm, similar to an algae around the reeds, and the reeds themselves, also use nutrients for their growth, removing excess from the water. Within the design can be a deep chamber which landholders can utilise to pump extra water to irrigate crops, providing good production benefits. A larger biodiversity wetland area also provides a native wetland ecosystem for fishing and  detains water on the property for as long as possible before entering the receiving waters.

This is a Reef Catchments initiative, made possible through funding from the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science.