Supporting Water Quality Improvement for the Fitzroy River’s Olympic Rowing Venue

Recently, the Queensland government made an exciting announcement. Rowing events for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics will be held on the Fitzroy River. This decision has sparked interest across the Queensland, Australia, and internationally, and could provide significant benefits to the region. As Queensland prepares for the games, there’s now a unique opportunity to leverage this attention to make lasting improvements to the Fitzroy River’s health and water quality.

Queensland’s Water Quality Improvement Targets and the Urgent Need for Action:

The Australian and Queensland governments have set ambitious water quality improvement targets to reduce pollutants flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. However, while action is occurring, the required level of positive impact has not yet been achieved, and it’s difficult to see how the targets will be met. Simply continuing past actions without rethinking the approach will not suffice. Additional effort and innovative solutions are necessary to meet future water quality improvement targets. Without testing new ideas, we will continue to fall behind in delivering the required actions to achieve these goals.

This delay in achieving water quality targets underscores the urgent need for fresh solutions and greater investment in practices that reduce sediment and nutrient movement from the land. The announcement of Olympic rowing events on the Fitzroy River serves as a timely reminder of these challenges and highlights the importance of taking immediate action. It also presents an opportunity to accelerate progress and rally support for meaningful water quality improvements in the region.

Verterra and the Reef Credit Scheme:

At Verterra, we are committed to supporting water quality improvement efforts for both waterway and broader reef health. This commitment is reflected in our efforts to develop the Grazing Land Management (GLM) method for water quality improvement under the Reef Credit Scheme, which is now approved for application. Additionally, our innovative DROVER mapping services can assist landholders and other stakeholders to improve water quality, benefiting both the environment and the local economy.

The Reef Credit Scheme is a market-based mechanism that rewards landholders and businesses for adopting land management practices that improve water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. These credits represent reductions in pollutants like sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which often flow from the land into water systems, impacting both the reef and surrounding ecosystems. Importantly, Reef Credits can also be coupled with other credits, such as carbon credits, providing additional environmental benefit and grazing productivity gains.

How DROVER Mapping Can Help:

DROVER mapping, developed by Verterra, provides landholders with comprehensive services to monitor, assess, and inform improved land management practices. For the Fitzroy River, this mapping offers the following advantages:

• Tracking and improving practices: DROVER mapping allows landholders to track and assess pasture cover, providing a means to measure the effect of land management practices aimed at improving grazing productivity and reef water quality. 

• Verifying water quality and grazing benefits: Verterra’s DROVER mapping service helps demonstrate the impact of different land management practices on water quality. By accurately quantifying reductions in sediment and nutrients flowing into the Fitzroy River, DROVER mapping supports landholders in improving overall land condition. 

• Boosting local support for sustainable practices: Through the Reef Credit Scheme, landholders can increase grazing productivity and earn an additional income stream by adopting land practices that improve water quality. These credits can be sold to businesses and organizations looking to offset their environmental impacts, boosting the local economy. DROVER enables this.

  
  

A Call to Action - Corporate Support for Reef Credits:

This is where corporate support becomes crucial. As we face the challenges of improving water quality and meeting sediment reduction targets, we urge businesses and corporate entities to take action by purchasing Reef Credits. Purchasing these credits provides much-needed funding for sustainable land management practices that directly contribute to water quality improvement in the Fitzroy River and the Great Barrier Reef.

By investing in Reef Credits, companies not only help support the urgent water quality improvements needed to meet Queensland’s targets but also demonstrate corporate responsibility and commitment to environmental sustainability. The announcement of Olympic rowing events on the Fitzroy presents an opportunity for companies to make a meaningful impact on the health of the river and the Great Barrier Reef.

Supporting the Fitzroy River and the Great Barrier Reef:

The Fitzroy River is an integral part of Queensland’s ecosystem, and its water quality directly impacts the surrounding land, communities, and the Great Barrier Reef. With the world’s eyes turning to Queensland for the Olympic Games, now is the perfect time to take bold action to improve the water quality in the Fitzroy River.

By combining Verterra’s expertise in ecological engineering with the Reef Credit Scheme, we can help ensure that the river and reef remain healthy and vibrant, not only for the Olympic Games but also for future generations. These efforts will support biodiversity, enhance local resilience to climate change, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Road Ahead

As Queensland captures global attention, Verterra is committed to supporting the region’s efforts to maintain and improve the water quality of the Fitzroy River. Our DROVER mapping services and involvement in the Reef Credit Scheme are integral to these efforts. Together with local landholders, we can make meaningful strides in water quality improvement. We invite landholders, businesses, and other stakeholders to join us in this critical effort to create a cleaner, healthier future for the Fitzroy River and the Great Barrier Reef. Now is the time to act. By supporting the Reef Credit Scheme, we can all play a part in improving water quality and safeguarding this precious ecosystem for generations to come.

Recent photo of Fitzroy River - Taken by Dave Waterson March 2025