Fitzroy Partnership: Part of the solution towards a better water future Information the key to supporting Litter reduction Fitzroy Partnership is proud to work with Drain Buddies and Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) to report on litter collection and debris capture in drains and on coastlines as part of our ongoing work on water quality and community engagement in the Fitzroy. Led by Fitzroy Basin Association, Drain buddies commenced in June 2019 and has prevented tonnes of litter from entering drains and polluting local rivers in Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Gladstone in that time. Drain buddies are heavy-duty mesh baskets installed at litter hotspots to trap litter and organic debris. The program was extended throughout the Fitzroy Basin to Biloela, Emerald and Blackwater in 2021, with information to be made regularly available about litter collected and local hotspots. The Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) which is a database of ReefClean events led by Tangaroa Blue, will also allow Fitzroy Partnership for River Health to report on litter locally. Volunteers collect litter along transects for a designated length of time and the litter results are recorded. Total litter from Tangaroa Blue events on the Capricorn Coast will be measured and assessed, and this [...]

Australian and Queensland Governments: Reef 2050 Protecting the Reef Everyone has a part to play to keep the Great Barrier Reef healthy and resilient. The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $3 billion over 10 years (from 2014-15 to 2023-25) to implement the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan). Following the first five-yearly review of the plan, an updated version has been released to ensure it continues to address the right priorities and actions to support the health and resilience of the Reef including a greater focus on taking action on climate change. Fitzroy Partnership for River Health is an important stakeholder in the ongoing work to measure the health of waterways that lead to the Great Barrier Reef, and  promote ongoing management change and water stewardship activities with partners. The work of Fitzroy Partnership for River Health particularly aligns with integrated water quality monitoring and report card programs in the Fitzroy Basin priority catchment. To find out more about the updated Reef 2050 Plan and ways you can get involved to help protect the Reef, visit https://www.awe.gov.au/parks-heritage/great-barrier-reef/long-term-sustainability-plan

Queensland Government: Plastic reduction in action Plastic pollution is a growing problem and when it ends up in the wrong place, it can negatively impact the health of our communities, our environment and wildlife. More and more the community is seeing the impacts of plastic pollution, locally and across the world, and everyone has a role to play in tackling plastic waste. The Queensland Government is tackling plastic waste through the Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan that sets the course for Queensland to be part of the solution and a leader in driving necessary changes. The plan identifies and prioritises actions, at every step in the supply chain, to help reduce plastic waste and reduce the amount of plastic in and entering the environment. Some key achievements to date for Queensland include: the ban on the supply of single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags (1 July 2018), which has helped reduce the amount of plastic bag litter in the environment by 70%. more than five billion containers have been recycled across the state since the Containers for Change scheme began three years ago, with Queenslanders claiming over $500 million in refunds. the ban on the supply of single-use plastic [...]