A new funding program is offering grants of up to $4 million to support innovative water management projects that aim to reduce pollution entering the Great Barrier Reef from urban areas.
The Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund has a total value of $24 million. The program supports the development and use of practical solutions to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in urban waterways.
The funding includes grants through the Wastewater Grant Program to help test and develop affordable wastewater treatment technologies in areas connected to the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
Grants of up to $200,000 are also available to help expand the use of proven wastewater treatment technologies among urban organisations.
A Stormwater Innovation Challenge is also inviting councils, businesses, water service providers, researchers, and innovators to develop new solutions for managing stormwater.
Successful projects will receive support to move from early trials through to commercial use. The goal is to reduce nutrients and sediment in stormwater and improve water quality before it reaches the Reef.
Urban areas can affect the health of waterways, and the program aims to support low-cost and effective solutions that can be used by local communities.
The initiative encourages cooperation between industry, researchers, councils, and technology developers to protect the Reef and support long-term environmental outcomes.
Applications and expressions of interest are now open for organisations interested in participating in the program.
https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/reef/reef-program/urban-technology-innovation-fund