Water Quality Partnership Report Card: Review and Outlook 2018/19

1. 2017/18 year in review – outlook for 2018/19 Diane Tarte, Independent Chair 27 June 2018

2. 2017/18 year in review • 2nd full regional report card released in October 2017

3. 2017/18 year in review … • Partners’ Forum March 2018 • What needs to be done and why? • Are we on track or needing to do more? • Reflection/way forwards – updated Water Quality Improvement Plan • Role of the Partnership • Priority projects to improve the report card

4. Year in review contd… • Technical work • 5-year Program Design for enhancing the Report Card • Improved time-frame for release of the report card • Southern inshore water quality, coral reef and seagrass baseline established and scope of ongoing monitoring of southern inshore underway • Preparation of Partner’s Forum background information on links with M-W WQIP and progress to load reduction targets • Contributing to Reef 2050 Plan Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMREP) –coral and human dimension working groups in particular • Working with other GBR regional report cards to facilitate consistency & maximise efficiencies and member of the National Report Card Network • CSIRO and AIMS Whitsunday water quality research project progressed. • Appointment of Project Officer for 12 months to assist with priority technical project roll-out

5. Year in review contd … • Communication activities • Ongoing improvements of the web site http://healthyriverstoreef.org.au/ • 2018 International Year of the Reef pledges • Partner and focus group review of the report card and web site • Established a communications network of Partner’s own staff and resources. • Four e-newsletters to partners and supporters - 47% increase in subscriptions • Scoping of schools initiative utilising the report card results and Walking the Landscapes catchment story

6. Year in review contd … • Partnership Governance • Ongoing support of 23 partners including welcoming BHP Billiton and Catchment Solutions; 2 partners’ membership lapsed • Queensland and Australia government ongoing commitment • Regular, well-attended partners (3) & management committee meetings (4) • Reef Catchments providing vital role as Partnership’s host • Budget Carryover ~$180,000 + $100,00 strategic reserve since 2016/17

7. Year in review contd … • Chair’s 2017-18 KPIs

8. Outlook for 2018/19 … Opportunities • Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan implementation • Review and update of Mackay-Whitsunday WQIP with clear linkages to the report card • Follow-up to March 2018 Partners Forum • 5-year (2018-2022) Program Design for Paddock to Reef Program • Wrap-up and implementation of RIMReP • Wrap-up and follow-up of CSIRO/AIMS Whitsunday water quality project • Links with NQBP sediment budget initiative • Better understanding of sources and fates of sediments (and nutrients) • Sandy Creek pesticides initiative and Mackay Canegrowers Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers trials • Reef restoration initiatives – Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program • Partnering with Lend Lease on their Springboard Whitsunday initiative • GBR Foundation – new delivery model for investing in the GBR

9. Outlook for 2018/19 … Challenges • Enhancing the relevance of the regional report cards and the regional partnerships • Actively engaging in new initiatives while delivering our core program • Report card improvements constrained by available resources • Increasing membership • Increasing the budget

10. Outlook for 2018/19 … Challenges • Enhancing the relevance of the regional report cards and the regional partnerships • Report card improvements constrained by available resources • Actively engaging in new initiatives while delivering our core program • Increasing membership • Increasing budget