Nominations are now open for the 2019 Reef Champion Awards celebrating the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations working to improve the quality of water entering the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
The Awards are run by the Reef Alliance with support from the Australian and Queensland governments to recognise the dedicated land managers, extension officers, industries and members of the community excelling in their efforts to help safeguard the future of the Reef.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) CEO Travis Tobin said farmers, with the support of extension officers and their communities, play an essential role as responsible land managers and it is important to acknowledge and celebrate those who are excelling as environmental stewards.
“The Awards provide agriculture and the broader community with the opportunity to celebrate the local heroes who are working to improve land management practices and Reef water quality by reducing farm run-off and erosion.”
“These important actions are continuing to make improvements to the quality of the water leaving the farm and they highlight the long standing commitment farmers and their communities have made to improving the health of the Reef.”
“Critical to the success of these voluntary programs is the strong partnership with the Australian and Queensland governments. It is only through working together that we can achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for farmers and the environment.”
“For the third year running, the Reef Alliance has partnered with The Prince’s Trust Australia to offer the coveted Prince of Wales Environmental Leadership – Reef Sustainability Award. This recognises the exemplary efforts of an individual farmer or group of farmers, to raise awareness, foster knowledge-sharing, and engage local communities in sustainable natural resource management, particularly for reducing water pollution to protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef.”
The full list of awards is:
Prince of Wales Environmental Leadership – Reef Sustainability Award
Reef Conservation Champion Award
Reef Extension Officer Champion Award
Nominations close 12pm Tuesday 8 October 2019, for more information and to apply, visit www.qff.org.au/projects/reef-alliance/awards.
The Reef Champion Awards are funded by the Australian Government, and the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program.