Depa rtment of Natural Resources and Mines
Water quality: working on waterways –
enabling Wet Tropics Traditional Owner
stewardship
Project summary
Proponent: Terrain Natural Resource Management Ltd
Value: $540,000
Project duration: 1 October 2013 – 30 June 2016
Project description
Terrain Natural Resource Management will deliver a three year devolved grants program which will
fund Traditional Owner groups to undertake water quality improvement activities. These activities
are known as Working on Waterways activities and include:
 enhancing or protecting native vegetation on stream banks and wetland areas
 stream bank rehabilitation works
 reducing the impact of vertebrate pest animals and weeds that currently impact on wetlands
and waterways, and the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
 community awareness, educational and capacity building activities related to wetland and
waterways issues and solutions.
This project will deliver improved water quality outcomes and management of priority wetlands and
waterways in the Wet Tropics region through devolved grants to Traditional Owner Groups.
Improving the quality of water running from rivers to the GBR is an effort that requires a
collaborative approach between governments, scientists, landowners and the community. Support
being provided to Traditional Owners recognises the importance of water resources to Indigenous
culture, society and livelihoods, and the critical role of Traditional Owners in managing water
resources in the region.
A key component of this project will be providing capacity building and mentoring support to the
applicant and successful groups, to assist them to deliver projects of excellence, and build their
skills in areas such as on-ground delivery, project planning and management, budgeting,
communications, and monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The level and nature of support will be
tailored to the needs and aspirations of the group.
The dual outcomes of the project are improved water quality and increased capacity of Traditional
Owner groups across the Wet Tropics region to effectively plan for and deliver Traditional Owner
aspirations for country and to broader Natural Resource Management outcomes.
Queensland
Government
In addition, Terrain Natural Resource Management will utilise existing partnerships with the
science community (including CSIRO, James Cook University, Reef and Rainforest Research
Centre) to link Traditional Owner projects to water quality planning, monitoring and prioritisation
efforts across the region. Terrain Natural Resource Management will integrate scientific and
technical advice on the planning and delivery of the water quality projects with Traditional Owner
knowledge, values and aspirations. Emphasis will be placed on integrating the wetlands and
waterways efforts of this project with other programs such as the Queensland Government
Queensland Wetland Program, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Extension
and Education, Reef Rescue and Project Catalyst. Traditional Owner groups will be provided with
the opportunity to participate in, and learn from these programs, as well as contribute cultural
knowledge.
Project outcomes
Long-term outcomes (5-10 years)
 Targeted on-ground works undertaken to protect and manage priority riparian areas and
wetlands, delivered through Traditional Owner groups across the Wet Tropics region.
 Improved management in priority wetlands as part of Reef Plan commitments through onground assessment and monitoring of priority wetlands that provide community, industry, water
quality and ecosystem services to the region.
Intermediate outcomes (3-5 years)
 Delivery of a targeted on-ground devolved grants program to Traditional Owner groups to undertake on-ground projects to protect stream banks, riparian areas and wetlands.
 Communication products / events focusing on the results and learnings from water quality
grants (including through newsletters, articles, radio interviews, field days, websites, and case
studies) and outcomes of strategic partnerships between local Traditional Owner groups and
other key water quality science and implementation partners.
 Assessment and determination of priority wetlands to achieve:
- a prioritised list of selected wetlands
- on-ground assessment and ground-truthing of the extent and nature of pressures affecting
wetland values
- sites selected for regional wetland pressures, functions and values reporting under the
Great Barrier Reef annual report card wetland 2014 baseline and 2017 change report cards
- value adding to the Great Barrier Reef annual report card, wetland 2014 baseline and 2017
change report cards.
Further information
For further information on the ‘Water quality: working on waterways – enabling Wet Tropics
Traditional Owner stewardship’ project, please contact Terrain NRM Ltd.
Water quality: working on waterways – enabling Wet Tropics Traditional
Owner stewardship
© State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.
Water quality: working on waterways – enabling Wet Tropics Traditional
Owner stewardship
© State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.