Who we are

Reef Catchments is the Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation for the Mackay Whitsunday region.   Our focus is on the sustainable management of the regions natural resources (land, water, biodiversity, coasts and marine assets) while maintaining a viable regional community.

We receive our funding through federal, state and private institutions to create viable environmental projects that improve the regions natural resource condition.

Our vision:

-       Enhanced natural resources for a sustainable community; and

-       Work collaboratively with the community to improve the condition of natural  resources while sharing in their derived benefits.

Our key role in the Mackay Whitsunday region is to:

-       Facilitate accelerated positive change in regional natural resource management actions;

-       Educate and build capacity within the regional community to identify natural resource cases of concern and develop and implement remedial actions of improvement; and

-       Record and report on natural resource condition and its improvement to all stakeholders.

One of our key aims is to also improve community knowledge of NRM issues along with improving community capacity to deal with these issues, backed with our strong commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery.

 

Management Committee 

Reef Catchments is supported by an independent Management Committee, which is responsible for the organisations strategic, legislative and policy direction.

Staff Bios

Reef Catchment has a team of 15 staff working in the areas of land, water, biodiversity, coasts and marine.

Regional Summary:

The Mackay Whitsunday region covers a land-based area of 10,785 square kilometres and an ocean-based area of 49,616 square kilometres.   The regional boundaries include the Pioneer-O'Connell and Proserpine catchments, which drain into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.  Sub-regions include the Mackay, Sarina and Whitsundays.

Key natural resource management issues in the region include:

-       Pest management;

-       Fire Management in rangelands;

-       Habitat fragmentation;

-       Agriculture and grazing management;

-       Water quality and quantity;

-       Wetland and waterway management;

-       Coastal management; and

-       Island management.

 

Natural Resource Management

Natural Resource Management (NRM) is the sustainable management of Australias natural resources (land, water, marine and biological systems) to ensure our ongoing economic, social and environmental wellbeing - now and well into the future.

The management of our environment and natural resources requires collaboration between local, state and federal governments, regional natural resource management bodies, land managers, irrigators, forest operators, catchment authority officers, local communities, volunteers and others.