Episode 12: Tablelands Roundup With Mayor Joe Paronella

Episode 12: Tablelands Roundup With Mayor Joe Paronella

Author: James Donaldson, Wet Tropics Waterways March 6, 2019 Duration: 16:29

The Atherton Tablelands contains the headwaters for a number of significant Wet Tropics river systems, including the Herbert, Johnstone and Barron rivers.

The tablelands has a growing urban and rural population and boasts extensive agriculture including cane, bananas, numerous other fruit and vegetable cropping businesses and grazing properties. The region also attracts a growing number of tourists each year.

In this Episode, Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) mayor Joe Paronella explains the work that council does to balance the social and economic interests of the region with the environmental outcomes expected of a "Reef Guardians" council.


There's a vital, living connection between the lush, rainforested rivers of Far North Queensland and the vast blue expanse of the Great Barrier Reef. What happens in one profoundly affects the other. Hosted by James Donaldson from Wet Tropics Waterways, the Reef And Rivers Podcast explores this intricate relationship by giving a voice to the people who know it best. Each conversation moves beyond abstract science to ground-level stories, offering a direct line to farmers, Traditional Owners, researchers, and community volunteers who are actively engaged with the landscape. You'll hear about the specific critters-from tiny insects to majestic fish-that indicate a waterway's health, and learn about the practical, often ingenious projects aimed at protecting them. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an ongoing audio documentary about the interdependence of an entire region's lifestyle, economy, and environment. By tuning into this podcast, you gain an understanding of how everyday actions on land ripple out to the reef, and more importantly, how collective effort is working to ensure both these iconic systems thrive for generations to come. The discussions are grounded, hopeful, and filled with the kind of specific details that only come from firsthand experience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 72

Reef And Rivers Podcast
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