Cape York NRM secures major funding to tackle sediment runoff and protect the Great Barrier Reef

Efforts to support fine sediment reduction and improve the quality of water flowing from Cape York to the Great Barrier Reef have received a funding boost from the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

As one of six organisations to share in the $200 million in funding, Cape York Natural Resource Management (Cape York NRM) will deliver the Cape York Regional Landscape Repair project across Eastern Cape York with partner organisations South Cape York Catchments and Cape York Water Partnership through to 2030.

The project will focus on gully remediation and grazing land management to reduce fine sediment runoff to the Reef.

Cape York NRM Landscapes Program Manager Jorg Edsen said the new funds were an exciting opportunity to build on the ongoing work to protect the Reef.

“It is exciting that we can continue some of the projects and other work that has started in Cape York to prevent fine sediments flowing into the Reef and wreak havoc there,” he said.

“We now have a good-size project to continue working with Traditional Owners, landholders and our partners to actually repair the landscape.

“There are lots of land management challenges in the Cape that need our input, repair or remediation, so we are chipping away at all of these.”

South Cape York Catchments Program Manager Jessie Price-Decle said the new project and partnership was a great opportunity.

‘’We're excited about this new investment and the benefits it will bring to reef water quality and catchment ecosystems,” she said.

“The Landscape Repair Program is a fantastic opportunity for us to apply all we've learnt about delivering community-driven gully projects while providing local jobs, training, and contracts.”

Cape York Water Partnership Program Director Dr Christina Howley said it was a great investment.

“Sediment run-off from wildfires, road and track erosion, grazing impacts and gully erosion has significantly increased sediment loads to Cape York rivers and coastal waters,” she said.

“We are happy to see the Australian Government continuing to invest in this important work in our region.”

Cape York NRM CEO Pip Schroor said it was a significant project which had great value for Cape York.

“This marks the largest investment Cape York NRM has ever received,” she said.

“We are very proud to be able to support this important work.”

The Reef Trust Landscape Repair Program is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.