Resources sector welcomes river health study results

THE peak advocacy body for the resources sector in Queensland has welcomed a new Fitzroy River health report, which shows most reporting areas remained stable or improved over a 12 month period.

Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Michael Roche says the Council is a proud member of the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health partnership, which assesses waterway health for the Nogoa, Isaac, Connors, Dawson and Mackenzie river systems, the Fitzroy River estuary and the Keppel Bay marine environment.

The partnership, including 25 organisations from industry, agriculture, mining, government and communities today released its second report card on the Fitzroy Basis, which gave the Basin a ‘C-fair’ grade for 2011-12, the same overall result as the previous year.

‘Using data from more than 945,000 sample results and the best available science, the second Report has again been a significant undertaking,’ said Mr Roche.

‘These results give the clearest picture of the health of rivers, creeks, the estuary and marine environment in the Basin, and we are committed to contributing to the best source of scientific information available on the health of the waterways help guide their management.

‘The partners have invested almost $600,000 to develop the second report card in which results were again scrutinised by an independent science panel, chaired by Professor Barry Hart.

‘With activist groups constantly publishing information of doubtful quality and rigour, it is important that such independent research is carried out so that we can receive a true picture of river health to ensure that we can carefully balance the needs of industry with maintaining a healthy environment.

‘We look forward to the release of the most up-to-date 2012-13 report card by the end of 2014.'

The full 2011-12 report card, reporting area overviews, detailed datasets, additional information, river stewardship and grading information are all available online at www.riverhealth.org.au.

ends