$24 million Urban Technology and Innovation Fund launched to protect Great Barrier Reef

A $24 million Urban Technology and Innovation Fund has been launched by the Australian and Queensland Governments aimed at driving cutting-edge solutions for improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef.

The Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund will tackle urban water pollution from stormwater, wastewater, and industrial runoff. Urban areas cover less than 1% of the Great Barrier Reef catchment, but their impact is still locally significant.  

The Fund will build on previous investments and existing initiatives, as well as support the development of new management approaches and technologies, or technologies applied at scale elsewhere but not tested within the Reef catchment.

The joint Queensland-Commonwealth Fund will be comprised of $12 million Commonwealth funding and $12 million Queensland Government funding, with co-investment from project proponents, and will be overseen by the Queensland Government’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

Federal Minister for Environment and Water, Murray Watt noted “the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, providing a habitat for thousands of marine species, including those that are endangered. 

“As a natural wonder, it holds cultural and economic significance, attracting millions of visitors and supporting local communities. It plays a crucial role in the Queensland economy as a major tourism centre, and through supporting fisheries and protecting the Queensland coastline from erosion.

“Protecting the Reef through initiatives such as the Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund ensures that future generations can experience its beauty and benefit from the important ecological services it provides.

“The Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund is part of our $192 million Clearer Water for a Healthy Reef package, and it builds on our $30 million investment for the Reefwise Urban Program, supporting activities to reduce water pollution from urban sources within priority Great Barrier Reef catchments.”

Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation, Andrew Powell added “we must continue to improve our practices to address Reef-related urban water challenges, including adopting new technologies and approaches in urban water management.

“Runoff from stormwater, industrial land use, and wastewater treatment plants contributes to dissolved inorganic nitrogen loads and fine sediment that reaches the Reef. While these urban loads are small on a Reef-wide scale, they can have significant local effects.

“The fund will support new and innovative approaches in urban landscapes, reinforcing that Reef water quality is a shared responsibility between different levels of government, industry and communities.

“We’re backing cutting-edge solutions for wastewater management, stormwater treatment, and erosion control.

“We propose to conduct an open merit process to select a private-sector organisation to manage the fund this financial year, with a call in the new financial year for project proposals to deliver tangible outcomes for Reef water quality and support environmental innovation.”

For further information on the Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund,