Central Queensland’s water quality assets are under pressure
from poor ground cover, land clearing, water contaminants, invasive
plants and animals, modification of riparian zones, floodplains and
wetlands, stream bank erosion, waterway development, barriers to
species movement and cost of changing management practices.
The Healthy Waterways program seeks to aid in reduction of pressure
to these assets through:
Riparian
and Wetland Protection
The Fitzroy Basin Association is committed to implementing
on-ground activities to rehabilitate and protect our natural
assets. Although we are involved in planning, we see this as a
vehicle to meet our primary goal of increasing on-ground actions
that sustain and improve our natural resources. The Healthy
Waterways program is no different. As a result of commitments in
the 2006/07 financial year alone, FBA and landholders protected
601.09 ha
of wetland native vegetation and
18,248 ha
of riparian native vegetation along riparian zones length of
288.5 km
and off-stream watering points of
22 km
. Riparian and wetlands protection in past years have increased
significantly with a total of
7000 ha
. Since 2004, such activities have improved management on over
750 km
of creeks and rivers. Based on the achievements of landlords
working with FBA, a
4.1 million tonne
reduction in soil loss to streams over the next 10 years can be
expected. These actions have enhanced management practices
resulting in increased groundcover; reduced gullying and increased
bank stability - all of which are known to improve water quality
and in-stream aquatic health.
Planning
and Research for Waterway Improvement
The Fitzroy Basin Association is involved in planning and research
to assist in meeting our primary goal of increasing on-ground
actions that sustain and improve our waterways. This includes
collaboration with research providers and planning for the setting
of realistic and achievable water quality targets.
Overcoming
the Barriers - Fishways
The Fitzroy Basin Association is working in the region to identify,
prioritise and overcome barriers to fish and other aquatic life
movement.
Healthy
Waterways for the Community
Community involvement is the key to any water quality improvement
for our region. Our community has been attending training and
capacity building events that FBA have coming up or have held and
sponsored.
Activities
in our Natural Resource Management Plan
The Central Queensland Strategy for Sustainability is FBA’s
accredited Natural Resource Management Plan. This plan incorporates
all aspects of our region’s natural resources including water
quality, riparian integrity and wetland health.
