Reef Wise Farming

Scientific evidence is telling us that there are damaging levels of fertiliser, sediment and pesticide in the Great Barrier Reef’s waters.
The vast majority of these pollutants are from cattle and sugarcane production.

Under the Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Act 2009 to take effect from 1 January 2010:
Sugarcane farmers and graziers in the Mackay-Whitsunday, Burdekin Dry Tropics and Wet Tropics must apply no more than the optimum amount of fertiliser to their soil.

• Farmers and grazers already taking all reasonable and practical steps to avoid or minimise damage to the reef from sediment, fertiliser and pesticides will not be greatly affected by the new legislation.
  
• Those farmers that are not carrying out reef-compatible farming practice will need to change how they do things to comply with the new laws and regulations.
  
• Property owners whose activities are considered high risk to the reef will be required to prepare and implement environmental risk management plans showing how they are improving their practices as necessary to achieve a standard compatible with reef health.