Episode 2: Prof Steve Turton - 2018 Waterway Health Results

Episode 2: Prof Steve Turton - 2018 Waterway Health Results

Author: James Donaldson, Wet Tropics Waterways December 12, 2018 Duration: 18:43


Subscribe To Reef And Rivers

iTunes  |  Stitcher  |  Google Podcast  |  Spotify  |  iHeart  |  Download This Episode


Episode Description

In Episode 2 of "Reef and Rivers" Greg Vinall chats with the Independent Chairman of the Wet Tropics Healthy Waterways Partnership, Professor Steve Turton about the 2018 results and what they're telling us.

The 2018 Wet Tropics Report Card draws on data collected during the monitoring period from July 2016 to June 2017. This is the third consecutive data collection period that coincided with below average rainfall across the region and Greg and Steve talk about how this affects the Report Card scores for 2018 and how it bodes for the future of waterway health in the region.

Podcast Timestamps

01:00   What the Wet Tropics Report Card is, and why it's important.
02:50   How the Report Card will be used
05:45   The results for 2018
06:35   Marine indicators and results
08:30   The connection between land-use and crown of thorns starfish
09:35   The reason marine inshore scores are low in 2018
11:55   Expectations for the 2019 Wet Tropics Report Card
12:55   Effect of the 2018 major rainfall event on waterway health
15:05   On-ground actions in the region and the impact on waterway health
17:05   How to get involved with the Wet Tropics Healthy Waterways Partnership
17:45   How to get a Report Card or get in touch with us


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
Podcast Episodes
Season 2 Episode 1: Michelle McKinlay from ABGC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:07
Over 90% of Australia's bananas are grown in the Wet Tropics but with increasing pressure on our agricultural sectors to become more environmentally sustainable, the banana industry is making changes to improve the quali…
Steve Turton: 2019 Wet Tropics Report Card Results [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:09
In July 2019 the fourth Wet Tropics Waterway Health report card was launched, highlighting the condition of the basins, estuaries and marine zones from the Daintree in the north to Hinchinbrook in the south. Wet Tropics…
Episode 19: Suzette Argent explains bioreactors. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:37
Bioreactors show a lot of promise for denitifying and "polishing" groundwater before it is expressed into waterways or direct to the Great Barrier Reef via wonky holes (undersea springs). Whilst they won't negate the nee…
Episode 18: Understanding Paddock To Reef With Fiona Barron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:40
Fiona Barron is the Wet Tropics Coordinator of the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program (P2R), a world leading scientific program funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments that…
Episode 13: Woodleigh Station Land Management Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
Woodleigh Station is a working beef cattle business that embraced sustainable landuse and grazing best practice. Management of stocking levels, extensive fencing and provision of of stream watering points are strategies…