As part of the development of the Burdekin WQIP it is necessary to ascertain the environmental values associated with the waterways, estuaries and marine areas within the Burdekin Region. This is achieved through community consultation and expert panels. Water quality objectives (WQOs) are measurable indicators of the characteristics which will be set by the WQIP to protect environmental values of particular waterways.

Many of the Burdekin waterways are important habitat for wildlife.  Photo: G. Calvert.

Where  multiple environmental values apply to a waterway or water body, the water quality guidelines to support each of these values should be identified and the most stringent of these selected for the highest level of protectin. For the Burdekin WQIP the following water quality guidelines are considered in preferential order:

• Interim marine water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Draft) (GBRMPA 2006)
• Queensland Water Quality Guidelines (EPA 2006)
• Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC 2000)
• Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC 2004)
• Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (NHMRC 2006).

The above guidelines are considered trigger values that would indicate a potential environmental problem if exceeded, "triggering" a management response.

As part of the development of the Burdekin WQIP water quality objectives for nutrients, sediments and pesticides will be assigned to each potential environmental value based on the guidelines above.

Read the Report

Draft Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives for the marine and estuarine areas of the Lower Burdekin region.

By: Allyson Lankester, Ian Dight , Jon Brodie, Zoe Bainbridge and Stephen Lewis (2007). (1.6Mb)