Herbert Integrated Proejct

HERBERT INTEGRATED PROJECT (HIP)

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHY CATCHMENT & HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Overview

This project is working together with partners and community members to further improve reef water quality. It is taking a whole of system approach, treating the catchment as one connected system so that multiple co-benefits for the community can be delivered as well as water quality outcomes.

Background

Several reef water quality programs have been delivered in the Herbert catchment over the past 15 years and good progress has been made but there’s still a long way to go to meet the reef 2050 targets.

Key objectives

Create a long-term stewardship plan for the catchment.
Scope out and co-design high impact opportunities for improving water quality.
Maximise impact by integrating several projects.
Deliver most feasible projects.
Identify opportunities to leverage investment to deliver co-benefits.
Build capacity in the community including raising awareness and understanding of new opportunities such as environmental markets.

Locations

Upper & Lower Herbert Catchment

Subprojects

Hinchinbrook Shire Council – Feral pig management across 10,000 hectares of coastal wetlands.
Upper Herbert Graziers – Demonstration of fire management to control woody weeds.
HCPSL – Working with cane farmers on whole of farm planning.
Aquasea – Development of a whole of catchment management plan.
Alluvium – Building capacity of extension officers and land managers to understand the role of natural capital in farm businesses.
Civic Futures Lab – Building a shared understanding of circular economy opportunities in the Herbert.
TropWater – Supporting water quality science communication.

Funders

The Herbert Integrated Project is funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by Terrain NRM in partnership with many stakeholders including Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, Canegrowers and TropWATER.