Qld: Beattie and Howard sign reef MOU

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Qld: Beattie and Howard sign reef MOU

By Chris Herde and Jordan Baker

CAIRNS, Aug 13 AAP - The federal and Queensland governments have joined forces to protectthe Great Barrier Reef from land-based pollution.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today aims to develop and implement codesof practice, identify areas of greatest erosion hazard and create a water quality actionplan.

"Both governments share the objective of stabilising and reversing the decline in thequality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef," Prime Minister John Howard said.

"We cannot effectively manage the world heritage qualities of the Great Barrier Reefwithout the commonwealth and Queensland governments working together on important issuessuch as water quality."

The two governments will develop a Reef Water Quality Protection Plan by the end of 2002.

Funding for the plan will be made available through the National Action Plan for Salinityand Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said while at this stage there was no compulsion bylaw for any initiatives to be enforced, the state government had been working for sometime with land-holders to change practices.

"The incentive is to protect your livelihood for future generations," he said.

"We are talking about Australians working together to protect on the wonders of the world."

Mr Beattie said the MOU was the first initiative which focused on the quality of watergoing from the land into the reef area.

"This is about state interests and the national interests and working together," he said.

The reef has been a battleground for farmers and conservationists over the effect ofrun-off into the world heritage area.

There has been concern that run-off, especially from the sugar industry, has harmedthe coral reefs, mangrove forests, sponge gardens and sea grass beds.

Worldwide Fund For Nature spokeswoman Imogen Zethoven welcomed the agreement.

"We think it is an historic agreement, a landmark achievement from both governments," she said.

"Land-based pollution is degrading inshore reefs and it is great to see such a highlevel of support being given to tackling this problem."

Paul Bidwell, deputy chief executive of the Queensland primary producers lobby groupAgforce, said the beef industry had invested money researching sediment run-off.

He said the research would complement the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.

But he did not agree with claims the grazing industry was harming the reef.

"Statements saying sediment is having a detrimental impact on the reef have not beenproven," Mr Bidwell said.

AAP ch/sc/pw/sb

KEYWORD: REEF NIGHTLEAD