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ABARE outlines plan to save reef
24 Oct 2003
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics' report on saving the Great Barrier Reef says the cheapest option for reducing nutrient run-off from the Burdekin River would be to introduce buffer zones on sugar-cane farms. North Queensland farmers would stand to lose $5 million if the proposal were adopted.
The Burdekin River catchment is the second largest on Queensland's east coast and supports sugar-cane, cattle grazing and some horticultural crops. But the catchment is estimated to be responsible for about 30 per cent of the phosphorus and nitrogen that feeds into the Great Barrier Reef's inner lagoon.
ABARE proffers three options for minimising nutrient run-off: a 5-metre buffer zone around sugar cane fields; buffers and setbacks around rivers and creeks; and the destocking of beef cattle properties during periods of drought.
The canefield buffer would be the cheapest option and significantly reduce nutrient run-off, but would take about $5 million worth of cane out of production. The partial destocking of cattle properties would cost about $7.3 million in lost production, while the establishment of buffers around waterways would only cost $500,000 in lost production but an additional $9 million in fences to keep stock out.
Australian Financial Review, 24/10/03.
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