Agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides, are an important aspect of modern agriculture. They enable farmers to control weeds, insects and diseases that would usually reduce yields,  thus compromising the farm’s productivity and economic viability.

There is concern, however, that pesticides, which encompass herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, have negative environmental effects, compromising the quality of water in surrounding water bodies when pesticides are washed off site.

As part of the process of developing the Burdekin Water Quality Improvement Plan, Burdekin CCI commissioned a report by the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR) to review the historical and current use of pesticides in the lower Burdekin and Don River catchments. These areas are  both home to intensive cropping, primarily sugar cane and, to a lesser extent, horticulture. Both industries employ pesticides in their agricultural practices.

Ambient (low flow) and event flow pesticide monitoring was carried out at the sub-catchment scale between 2005 and 2007. The ACTFR report identifies the chemicals of key concern in the area, their properties and potential impacts on the receiving water bodies (including coastal wetlands, estuarine and marine environments).

The 2007 flood plume in Bowling Green Bay, produced by the Haughton River and Barratta Creek was also monitored for pesticides. 

Results may be found in the report.

Read the Report

Pesticides in the lower Burdekin and Don River catchments: 2005 - 2007.

By: Stephen Lewis, et al. 2007.