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Previous Reef Rescue funding rounds
What is Reef Rescue?
The Reef Rescue program is a five year, $200 million
 investment by the Australian government under the Caring for Our Country initiative. This initiative, begun in 2008, takes a coordinated approach to restoring the health of Australia's environment and building on improved land management practices. There are five parts to the
program including:
1. Water Quality Incentive Grants, 2. Reef Partnerships, 3. Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships, 4. Reef Water Quality Research and Development, and 5. Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting. The majority of Reef Rescue funds are allocated to the Water Quality Incentive Grants ($146 M) to support voluntary action by farmers and land managers along the GBR coast to change land management practices. For more information: Reef Rescue fact sheet 937.17 Kb Objectives Terrain's role The Terrain NRM region extends from Bloomfield in the north, south to Ingham and west to Mount Garnett and includes the Atherton Tablelands. Ten river catchments lie within this region: Daintree, Mossman, Barron, Trinity Inlet, Russell, Mulgrave, Johnstone, Tully/Murray, Hinchinbrook and Herbert. Terrain does not have a role in the regulation of agriculture under the State's new Reef Protection legislation.
Water quality incentive grants The main component of Reef Rescue is the water quality improvement grants scheme. This scheme provides incentive payments to the sugar, grazing, horticulture and dairy industries to implement actions to reduce loss of nutrients, sediments and pesticides from farms.
Using this framework within the context of the Reef -wide Industry Plans, the regional rural industries established five-year practice adoption targets. Terrain and industry partners set annual practice adoption targets for each industry within the available Reef Rescue resources in 2008. From adoption of these targets, specific nutrient, pesticide and sediment reduction estimates will be refined for future years of funding. The ABCD Framework will also be refined as more accurate determinations of Best Management Practice adoption and their impact on water quality become known. Application process Extension Officers are employed in sugar cane, banana, papaw grazing, dairy and multi-cropping industries to assist producers with determining priority projects for funding applications. Project proposals are assessed by a panel of five industry and technical experts to select the best projects. Projects are assessed on the positive impact they will have on reducing the nutrient, sediment and pesticide loads leaving the farm. Partial funds are delivered for projects, and final payment made upon an evaluation of the completed project. Recipients of grants will have to contribute matching in-kind and cash to 50% of the project cost. Successful applicants will enter a contract with Terrain and project works will need to be completed before the end of the financial year. The contract requires a report to be submitted at the completion of the project, and an assessment team may conduct an inspection of the farm to review results. Grants are available for one or more practice improvements. The grants are a one-off incentive and not an ongoing subsidy - grant payment for a particular practice change will only be made once per farm. Who can access the grants? What projects can I apply for a grant for? Applicants must show that their project aims to improve current practices according to the industry practice change tables (see links below). These changes should reduce the amount of nutrients, sediments and pesticides in water run-off from the farm. Funding for projects that effect change to and training in, is available for: 1. Nutrient management: More efficient use of fertilisers and nutrients Examples of projects that would be funded, and those that are not eligible: Projects suitable for funding For further information contact your local Extension Officer or, Fiona George, Program Officer for Sustainable Industries, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 0488 702 203.
Links The Herbert Resource Information Centre have developed a Reef Rescue Portal to capture property information for all applications: Visit the Reef Rescue Mapping Portal (www.hric.org.au). The Reef Rescue Water Quality Improvement Grants Program is a joint partnership between:
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More about Terrain's position. 
