South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership
South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership
The South East Queensland (SEQ) Healthy Waterways Partnership is a government-community collaboration committed to improving the health of the catchments and rivers of south-east Queensland.
Funded by the Queensland Government through the Department of Environment and Resource Management, the Partnership coordinates the efforts of over 70 partners, including south-east Queensland local councils, researchers, educators and numerous industry and community contributors.
Healthy Waterways partners are delivering on the 500 management actions they have committed to under the SEQ Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012.
DERM is managing the Queensland Government's $20 million investment in the Strategy's actions to reduce water pollution loads and restore degraded waterways-building on the Partnership's unparalleled strength in government-community collaboration:
The Partnership's activities are coordinated by the Healthy Waterways Partnership Office.
Find out more about the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership by visiting their website:
http://www.healthywaterways.org/
Major waterway health projects
Under the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy, DERM is leading the development of a new policy and planning framework for sustainable urban water management.
The Strategy is building Queensland's capacity for widespread adoption of water sensitive urban design and the control of erosion and sediment during urban developments, including State roads.
Similarly, the Healthy Country Program is helping landowners and communities in rural areas of south-east Queensland restore degraded waterways, adopt sustainable land-use practices and monitor and report progress.
The Partnership is leading projects to engage traditional owners, strengthen community education and awareness, improve ecosystem health monitoring and evaluate the Strategy.
Monitoring ecosystem health
The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program for south-east Queensland releases its Ecosystem Health Report Card in October each year.
Coordinated by the Healthy Waterways Partnership and led by DERM, the Ecosystem Health team analyses data from 135 freshwater and 254 estuarine and marine sites (389 in total) across south-east Queensland.
The team then assigns grades ranging from 'A for excellent' to 'F for fail' to 19 catchments and 18 estuaries, as well as nine zones within Moreton Bay.
To view the latest Report Card results, visit http://www.healthywaterways.org/.
More information on the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program is available at:
Healthy Waterways Awards
The South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership hosts the annual Healthy Waterways Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of groups and individuals who devote their time to the health of the region's waterways.
The Awards are held in May each year, and are open to anyone whose work contributes to achieving the Partnership's vision, including individuals, schools, community groups, students, government, industry, researchers, planners and designers.
Supported by DERM, the Minister's Grand Prize, worth $10,000, is awarded to the most innovative winner of the other award categories.
To nominate a healthy waterways champion, or find out more about the awards, visit:
http://www.healthywaterways.org/page170555pmb0t0b8.html
Last updated: 24 April 2009