The ABC reports that the Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles has told Parliament that the state’s chief scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett, will head up a new Water Science Taskforce, which would also include industry figures.
‘”The taskforce has been given the job of providing a set of practical recommendations about the best combination of measures to achieve our water quality targets, including the priorities for investing the additional $100 million the Government has committed over the next five years,” Mr Miles said.
‘During the election campaign, Labor promised to reduce nitrogen run-off by up to 80 per cent and total suspended sediment by up to 50 per cent in key catchments such as the Wet Tropics and the Burdekin by 2025.
‘The health and sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef has been the subject of much debate, with UNESCO considering listing the world heritage site as in danger.
Mr Miles also announced a new Office of the Great Barrier Reef would be established within the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.’