For our region’s sugarcane growers, the future is looking bright. New opportunities are emerging that support on farm productivity, strengthen profitability and improve water quality, thanks to a milestone $7.4 Million investment into the region by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.
“This project will give growers practical on-ground support to increase productivity and profitability, while directly contributing to important improvements in water quality flowing through to the Great Barrier Reef,” says Reef Catchments Manager (Sustainable Agriculture), Todd McNeill.
The investment is part of a wider $30 million commitment to on-farm activities that reduce nutrient and pesticide losses to the Great Barrier Reef through the Reefwise Farming Program.
Assistant Minister for Tourism and Northern Australia, Nita Green, said that this investment is crucial to ensuring a resilient Great Barrier Reef. “Protecting the Reef means protecting Queensland jobs. Supporting landholders to do their part means we’re building partnerships and the Reef’s resilience. This investment is a win for the Reef and a win for farmers.”
Over the next three years, the investment will enable Reef Catchments, our region’s Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation, to work with 60 landholders. Support will include nutrient and chemical management planning, access to expert tailored agronomy advice, major equipment grants, educational resources and peer-to-peer learning opportunities that help reduce the movement of nutrients and chemicals from farms into local waterways.
Todd McNeill said that combining access to equipment with tailored agronomic support helps growers adopt and refine management practices with confidence. “This project allows our growers to close knowledge gaps, trial and refine changes on farm, and bring forward planned upgrades that deliver both productivity benefits and improvements in water quality”
Expressions of Interest for Reef Catchments Reefwise Farming project will open in early 2026.
The Reefwise Farming Project delivered by Reef Catchments is part of the Australian Government’s $1.2 billion Reef investment to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef. The Mackay Whitsunday Reefwise Farming Project is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.