Reef Water Quality Protection Plan - Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2013 2018

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Reef Water Quality Protection Plan - Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2013 2018
Reef Water Quality
Protection Plan
Research, Development and Innovation
Strategy 2013 – 2018
Contents

                                                                                     Executive summary                                                                                                            3

                                                                                     Acknowledgments                                                                                                              3

                                                                                     Introduction                                                                                                                 4

                                                                                     Scope                                                                                                                        4

                                                                                     Who will use this strategy?                                                                                                  5

                                                                                     Prioritising investment and knowledge                                                                                        5

                                                                                     Current challenges                                                                                                           5

                                                                                     Coordination and integration                                                                                                 5

                                                                                     Innovation                                                                                                                   5

                                                                                     Current investment                                                                                                           6

                                                                                     Desired outcomes by 2018                                                                                                     6

                                                                                     Guiding principles                                                                                                           7

                                                                                     Research themes                                                                                                              8

                                                                                     Prioritising research, development and innovation                                                                          10

                                                                               	Appendix 1: Process for identifying research,
                                                                                     development and innovation priorities                                                                                      11

                                                                               	Appendix 2: Research, development
                                                                                     and innovation priorities 2013 –2018                                                                                       13

                          © The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 2014. Published by the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Secretariat, November 2014, 100 George Street, Brisbane
                          Qld 4000. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. However, copyright protects this document. The State of Queensland
                          has no objection to this material being reproduced, made available online or electronically but only if it is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.
                          Copyright enquiries about this publication should be directed to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, by email to copyright@premiers.qld.gov.au or in writing to PO Box 15185,
                          City East Qld 4002. Copies of this publication can be obtained by contacting (07) 3003 9381 or at www.reefplan.qld.gov.au.
                          Image credits: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Tourism and Events Queensland.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy                                         2
Executive summary

                          The quality of water entering the Reef from           identify the knowledge gaps that must be filled
                          adjacent catchments remains one of the major          to provide long terms solutions for improving
                          management issues for protecting the Great            the quality of water entering the Reef.
                          Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Continued
                                                                                Unlike the 2009 –2013 Research, Development
                          advancements in, and understanding of,
                                                                                and Innovation Strategy, this strategy also
                          catchment to Reef water quality research,
                                                                                includes the contemporary priorities for research,
                          development and innovation are vital to
                                                                                development and innovation which have been
                          addressing the issue.
                                                                                identified in close consultation with Reef Plan
                          Investment over the last decade in Reef water         partners. Determining the most important
                          quality research has been significant. Led by         management questions, and identifying how to
                          this strong investment, research has helped           answer them, requires a wide-range of expertise.
                          target on-ground efforts which have been
                                                                                End users of research, development and
                          successful in halting the decline in water quality.
                                                                                innovation such as landholders, extension officers,
                          This Research, Development and Innovation
                                                                                catchment and reef managers, industry bodies,
                          Strategy builds on the actions to date and
                                                                                regional natural resource management bodies and
                          challenges partners and the broader community
                                                                                conservation groups have helped identify the most
                          to capitalise on these investments and push
                                                                                important questions to ensure that activities are
                          forward the knowledge boundaries so we can
                                                                                focused on achieving practical results and outputs
                          achieve the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan’s
                                                                                that can be widely adopted and supported.
                          (Reef Plan) goal and targets.
                                                                                Throughout the life of this strategy, biennial
                          While our understanding of water quality issues
                                                                                reviews will be undertaken to evaluate whether
                          has increased over the past decade, so too has
                                                                                the priority research questions have been
                          the expectation and demand for new knowledge
                                                                                answered and consider other emerging issues.
                          to inform on-ground change. The variety and
                          number of questions being asked by managers,
                          landholders and the community continues               Acknowledgments
                          to grow beyond the capacity of combined               The assistance provided by Bronwen Burke
                          investment.                                           and Paul Lawrence (Department of Science,
                                                                                Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts)
                          This strategy outlines the guiding principles
                                                                                in facilitating the Reef Plan Research, Development
                          around Reef water quality research and
                                                                                and Innovation workshop and developing
                          establishes a process to help identify the most
                                                                                workshop outputs is gratefully acknowledged.
                          critical questions that must be answered and

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                            Research, Development and Innovation Strategy     3
Introduction

                          More than 10 years after Reef Plan was               Reef Plan 2013 remains strategic and outcomes
                          launched (2003), the Australian and Queensland       focused, with strong accountability for actions
                          governments remain committed to delivering           and detailed monitoring to measure progress
                          on the long term goal of ensuring that by 2020       against targets.
                          the quality of water entering the Reef from
                                                                               This strategy specifically relates to Action one
                          broadscale agriculture has no detrimental
                                                                               of Reef Plan 2013:
                          impact on the health and resilience of the
                          Great Barrier Reef.                                  Develop, implement and maintain a
                          In July 2013, Reef Plan was reviewed, the targets    Research, Development and Innovation
                          were refined and the actions refocussed based        Strategy to identify research and
                          on the latest information and accrued knowledge      development priorities, and encourage
                          of all partners, which mostly came from              identification of innovative ways
                          investments under the previous (2009 –2013)          of reducing nutrient, pesticide and
                          Research, Development and Innovation Strategy.       sediment run-off.

                          Scope and research, development and innovation

                          This strategy provides guidance and direction for    knowledge about the impacts of poor water
                          Reef water quality related research, development     quality on Reef health to identifying, trialling and
                          and innovation required to inform Reef Plan 2013     validating solutions to this problem.
                          implementation.
                                                                               The monitoring and evaluation arrangements
                          It covers all biophysical and socio-economic         for Reef Plan are covered in a separate
                          research, development and innovation related         Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy which
                          to the effects of broadscale land use on water       addresses monitoring needs of the Paddock
                          quality and Reef health. It has the same scope       to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and
                          as Reef Plan, in that it has a primary focus on      Reporting Program. There is also an evaluation
                          reducing agricultural runoff and a secondary         component of the Research, Development
                          focus on reducing pollution from urban and           and Innovation Strategy to monitor uptake of
                          industrial land use. The plan also encompasses       research, development and innovation priorities.
                          the research needed to inform on-ground              More information about investment in research
                          actions to protect and restore Great Barrier Reef    is available in the Investment Strategy.
                          coastal ecosystems including wetlands and
                                                                               This strategy is informed by other key documents
                          riparian vegetation.
                                                                               such as the 2013 Scientific Consensus Statement
                          While this strategy does not cover climate change    on land use impacts on Great Barrier Reef water
                          research specifically, research projects may         quality and ecosystem condition, the Great Barrier
                          investigate interactions between water quality and   Reef Coastal Zone Strategic Assessment Report,
                          climate change. The main focus of the strategy       Great Barrier Reef Region Strategic Assessment
                          is to target research, innovation and investment     Report and the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report
                          efforts at solving the problem of water quality      2009. In particular, the Scientific Consensus
                          decline. At its core, this strategy emphasises       Statement identified new knowledge was needed
                          a fundamental shift away from collecting             to help achieve the ultimate goal of Reef Plan.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy       4
Who will use this strategy?

                          Research providers will find this strategy           the appropriate scales, and actions prioritised
                          useful when tailoring research programs and          using best available information. The priorities
                          projects to management needs. Investors will         for research, development and innovation need
                          find this strategy valuable when assessing           to be determined over the short and long term.
                          research, development and innovation
                                                                               In developing Reef Plan 2013, priorities have
                          proposals, to assess how important a proposal
                                                                               been reviewed and refined for the next five years
                          is in comparison to other Reef water quality
                                                                               and this will clearly influence the prioritisation
                          research priorities.
                                                                               process for research, development and
                                                                               innovation. One of the most critical priorities is
                          Prioritising investment                              reducing nutrient runoff in the Wet Tropics and
                          and knowledge                                        Burdekin catchments.
                          The desired outcome from this work area is
                                                                               While the greatest focus will be placed on
                          to prioritise, coordinate and integrate programs
                                                                               these regions, the importance of continuing the
                          to maximise Reef water quality outcomes.
                                                                               improvements in other areas is also recognised,
                          To achieve this outcome, issues and risks
                                                                               particularly as they relate to seagrass condition
                          need to be clearly assessed and defined at
                                                                               and protecting inshore coral reefs.

                          Current challenges

                          Coordination and integration                         Innovation
                          Over the past 10 years of Reef Plan, there have      As part of the development of Reef Plan
                          been significant advancements in both the            2013, it was acknowledged that meeting the
                          level of investment in research, development         nitrogen target will be challenging, even using
                          and innovation and the volume and quality            best practice. This will require new thinking
                          of outputs being delivered. Coordinating and         and approaches, including innovative policy
                          prioritising investment in research, development     and practices, to deliver substantial nutrient
                          and innovation remains the crucial element in        reduction in the Wet Tropics and Burdekin
                          ensuring that this momentum can be maintained        regions which were identified as critical
                          into the future.                                     priorities due to the link to crown-of-thorns
                                                                               starfish outbreaks.
                          Opportunities for integrating projects and
                          further collaboration between partners and           As identified in the 2009 Research, Development
                          providers have grown substantially with the          and Innovation Strategy, there remains very limited
                          development of Reef Plan. It is well recognised      investment for innovation and developing solutions
                          that the benefits of integration and collaboration   to these complex problems. These areas represent
                          have provided land and Reef managers with a          an opportunity to draw upon the expertise and
                          vast array of information on which to base their     wisdom of landholders and other stakeholders,
                          decisions. The primary challenge, however, lies      which can lead to significant water quality gains.
                          in validating these outcomes in differing scales,
                          on varying soil types, taking into account various
                          social and economic circumstances and the
                          potential impacts of a changing climate.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy     5
Current investment

                          Investment in Reef water quality research              of Environment and Heritage Protection;
                          is delivered through a range of programs and           Department of Natural Resources and Mines;
                          government initiatives along with co-investment        and Department of Science, Information
                          from industry and the private sector. Sources          Technology, Innovation and the Arts.
                          of investment include:                               • The Australian Government Department
                          • Collaborative initiatives such as the National       of the Environment and Great Barrier Reef
                             Environmental Research Program (ends in             Marine Park Authority invest in individual
                             2014) and the National Environmental Science        research projects.
                             Program (NESP) funded through the Australian      • Industry-based research and development
                             Government Department of the Environment.           organisations (such as Sugar Research
                          • Research funding provided through the                Australia Ltd, Meat and Livestock Association)
                             Australian Government Reef Programme                which are funded through industry levies and
                             (concluded in 2013 –2014).                          government contributions.
                          • Australian Government investment in                • Private investment in research through
                             university research through the Australian          non‑government organisations such as the
                             Research Council.                                   WWF and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
                          • Australian Government investment
                                                                               More detail about investment in research is
                             in research providers such as CSIRO,              available in the Investment Strategy 2013 –2018,
                             the Australian Institute of Marine Science        which broadly describes the Australian and
                             and the Bureau of Meteorology.                    Queensland governments’ investment in activities
                          • Queensland Government investment in research       that contribute to Reef Plan. The strategy also
                             by state agencies such as the Department of       showcases investments from non-government
                             Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Department   partners and non-government organisations.

                          Desired outcomes by 2018

                          A key focus of this Research, Development            • Have clearer guidance on the actions
                          and Innovation Strategy is to identify the desired     required by land managers to mitigate
                          outcomes by 2018 in order to meet the Reef             the impacts of declining water quality
                          Plan targets and see real and tangible benefits        in a sub‑catchment context.
                          to the ongoing health and resilience of the Reef.    • Promote innovative solutions to solve the
                                                                                 problem, particularly in relation to nutrient
                          Desired outcomes (2018)
                                                                                 use efficiency.
                          • Understand the level of impact the Reef
                                                                               • Use investment in research, development and
                             is currently experiencing and what level of
                             pollutant reduction is required to ensure that      innovation to efficiently and effectively achieve
                             the quality of water entering the Reef from         the Reef Plan water quality targets.
                             broadscale land use has no detrimental impact     • Have land managers, Reef managers and other
                             on the health and resilience of the Great           stakeholders involved in setting the research,
                             Barrier Reef.                                       development and innovation agenda and
                          • Identify system-wide changes that are needed
                                                                                 promoting and implementing its outputs.
                             to achieve the Reef Plan water quality targets.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy      6
Guiding principles

                          The development of this strategy was guided           Users of Reef water quality research include:
                          by a number of national and state research,           • landholders
                          development and innovation frameworks
                                                                                • Reef managers
                          including the National Primary Industries
                                                                                • catchment managers
                          Research Development and Extension
                          Framework and Queensland’s Science and                • public land managers
                          Innovation Action Plan.                               • water supply managers

                          Investment in research will also be guided by         • regional natural resource management bodies

                          the principles in the Reef Plan Investment            • extension officers
                          Strategy 2013–2018.                                   • researchers and scientists

                          The guiding principles in Figure 1 were used          • local government
                          to help develop the research, development             • Members of Parliament
                          and innovation priorities and ensure that this        • tourism operators
                          strategy contributes to achieving the desired
                                                                                • Indigenous landholders.
                          outcomes by 2018.

                                                                                2. S
                                                                                    ynthesise and integrate
                          1. Focus on end user needs
                                                                                   information and knowledge
                          Research, development and innovation
                                                                                Research, development and innovation
                          must continue to focus on the needs of users
                                                                                (including data, information and knowledge)
                          in order to deliver on-ground improvements.
                                                                                should be synthesised and integrated across
                          With a strong user focus, research, development       programs to optimise the understanding of
                          and innovation activities have the potential          land and Reef managers and the community,
                          to influence industry development, all aspects        to maximise return on investment, to reduce
                          of the delivery chain, new product development,       duplication of effort across providers and
                          new policies and a revitalised and up-to-date         to make the most of available scientific and
                          extension network.                                    technical expertise.

                                                                                A specific action has been included in Reef Plan
                                                                                2013 to ensure resources are identified for the
                                                                                synthesis and transfer of knowledge.

                                                                Focus on end user needs

                                                                                                  Synthesise and integrate
                              Promote innovation                   Guiding principles                    knowledge

                                                                    Build partnerships
                                                                    and collaboration

                          Figure 1: Guiding principles for prioritising research, development and innovation needs

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                            Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   7
3. Build partnerships                               4. Promote innovation
                              and collaboration                                Research, development and innovation should
                          Reef water quality research, development             continue to encourage innovative management
                          and innovation should be based on positive           practices, innovation in research techniques
                          partnerships and collaborative arrangements          and new technologies that can improve water
                          to share skills and knowledge across different       quality. Co-investment in innovation can help
                          providers and develop results that may not be        identify practices that benefit landholders through
                          possible in isolation.                               on‑farm efficiency and also improve water quality.

                          Research themes

                          To help structure the research, development          1. Management effectiveness
                          and innovation prioritisation process, five themes   Aims to link changes in management to
                          have been identified (see Figure 2).                 quantitative water quality benefits. It includes
                                                                               the design of monitoring programs to effectively
                                                                               measure progress in achieving water quality
                                                                               targets or staying within acceptable thresholds.

                                                                               This is a high priority because of the clear
                                                                               need to understand the water quality benefits
                                                                               associated with different land management
                                                                               practices, and to ensure that investment is
                                                                               directed into the areas with the greatest potential
                                     Solving          Monitoring
                                   the problem       the problem               for improving water quality outcomes.

                                                                               2. I ntegration and synthesis
                                                                                   of knowledge
                                                                               Aims to promote collaborative data sharing and
                                                                               partnerships to maximise positive outcomes,
                                                                               as well as effectively use existing data and
                                                                               knowledge to answer fundamental questions.
                          Figure 2: Progression of research themes
                                                                               This is a high priority for investment because the
                                                                               integration of existing information will help users
                                                                               to better understand the sources of pollutants,
                                                                               the role of positive influences such as wetlands,
                                                                               and direct management responses.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy      8
3. Socio-economic analysis                        5. Ecosystem understanding
                          Includes an assessment of current barriers to     Is necessary to improve knowledge of system
                          the uptake of improved land practices, the best   processes including the sources and fates
                          ways to overcome those barriers, and the social   of nutrients, sediments and chemicals. An
                          and economic benefits that can be derived         assessment of the load reductions required to
                          from changes in management. Identifying           meet the water quality guidelines is an important
                          barriers to uptake that limit management          component, as well as time lags between
                          effectiveness will guide faster implementation    management changes and evidence of water
                          of improved practices.                            quality benefits.

                                                                            Ecosystem understanding includes the role of
                          4. Innovation
                                                                            floodplains and wetlands, and the interactions
                          Aims to identify innovative land management       between water quality and climate change.
                          practices, develop more innovative policy         Understanding ecosystems assists in monitoring
                          options, improve research or monitoring           the problem. A large amount of work has
                          techniques and create new technologies to         been, and continues to be, undertaken in this
                          improve water quality. Investment in this area    area. However, the focus of this strategy has
                          is critical, as a continual focus on promoting    shifted towards minimising impacts and solving
                          innovative solutions to the problem can           the problem.
                          help assess which practices are having the
                          greatest benefit.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                        Research, Development and Innovation Strategy    9
Prioritising research,
                          development and innovation

                          A three stage iterative process has been used       Appendix 2
                          to identify and prioritise Reef water quality       This lists the priorities for cane and cropping,
                          research, development and innovation priorities     grazing, ecosystem repair and marine research,
                          and evaluate uptake (see Figure 3).                 development and innovation.

                          This is consistent with the process used under      The Research and Development Coordination
                          the previous Research, Development and              Group set up under Reef Plan 2013 will play a key
                          Innovation Strategy.                                role in identifying how the research, development
                                                                              and innovation priorities can be met, e.g. through
                          A more detailed description of the prioritisation
                                                                              consolidating existing information or developing
                          process is provided in:
                                                                              particular research projects.
                          Appendix 1
                                                                              The group will also play a role in evaluating the
                          This details the process used to develop
                                                                              uptake of research, development and innovation
                          the 2013 – 2018 research, development and
                                                                              priorities biennially.
                          innovation priorities.

                                  STAGE 3:               STAGE 1:
                                 Evaluate and         Identify research
                               report on update          questions
                                  (biennially)

                                            STAGE 2:
                                             Prioritise
                                         management needs

                          Figure 3: Process for prioritising research

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                          Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   10
Appendix 1: Process for identifying
                          research, development and
                          innovation priorities

                          Stage 1: Identifying research,                     The workshop was chaired by a qualified
                          development and innovation                         program logic facilitator (Bronwen Burke,
                          questions                                          Department of Science, Information Technology,
                          The following documents provided the basis         Innovation and the Arts), with support from
                          to develop a list of research, development and     key partners to lead discussion amongst
                          innovation questions and knowledge gaps:           four groups:

                          • 2013 Scientific Consensus Statement              • cane and cropping

                          • Reef Plan Research, Development and              • grazing

                            Innovation Plan 2011– 2012 Evaluation Report     • ecosystem repair

                          • assessment of the risk of pollutants to          • marine.
                            ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef including
                                                                             The research, development and innovation
                            differential risk between sediments, nutrients
                                                                             questions from stage 1 were provided to each
                            and pesticides and between land uses,
                                                                             group to use when developing alignment logic
                            industries and catchments
                                                                             diagrams. The second part of the workshop
                          • Reef Rescue Research and Development
                                                                             focused on prioritising the research, development
                            Final Program Report                             and innovation questions through the use of three
                          • review of the Reef Water Quality                 criteria (see Table 1) and results of the relative
                            Science Program                                  risk assessment (from the Scientific Consensus
                          • Marine Monitoring Program review                 Statement 2013). Group members were also
                          • other relevant information.
                                                                             provided with two stickers to ‘vote’ on their
                                                                             highest priority research, development and
                          A number of organisations also contributed         innovation questions.
                          to the list of research, development and
                          innovation questions, through the Research         It is acknowledged that this prioritisation system
                          and Development Coordination Group.                provides a subjective judgement; however the
                                                                             strength of the program logic process lies in
                                                                             the experience and understanding of workshop
                          Stage 2: Prioritise research,
                                                                             participants and the identification of critical
                          development and innovation
                                                                             information needed to support progress towards
                          questions
                                                                             the Reef Plan targets.
                          A research, development and innovation
                          workshop was held in February 2014 to map out      Following the workshop, draft alignment logic
                          and prioritise the research, development and       diagrams were circulated to attendees to check
                          innovation activities needed to support progress   that they represented the consensus reached
                          towards the Reef Plan targets. Reef Plan           during the workshop and their feedback was
                          Committee members and technical experts were       incorporated. The final research, development
                          invited to attend the workshop.                    and innovation alignment logic diagrams are
                                                                             available upon request.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                         Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   11
Stage 3: Evaluate uptake                              Table 1: Criteria for assessing research,
                          An evaluation report outlining the extent of          development and innovation questions
                          uptake of research, development and innovation
                                                                                 Criteria
                          priorities by providers will be compiled biennially
                          throughout the five years of this strategy. It will    Benefit
                          inform land and Reef managers by providing an
                                                                                 How important is it to answer this question
                          update on which research, development and
                                                                                 by 2018? For example, will it:
                          innovation needs are outstanding.
                                                                                 • clearly contribute to achieving the Reef
                          The effectiveness of this strategy will be               Plan targets (particularly in priority areas for
                          monitored broadly by assessing how many                  management as identified in Appendix 1 of
                                                                                   Reef Plan 2013)
                          of the key research, development and innovation
                          questions have been answered.                          • improve effectiveness of management
                                                                                   practices, policy instruments and/or
                          It is recognised that there are likely to be time        governance arrangements
                          lags in viewing evidence of change from projects       • integrate and synthesise knowledge
                          and hence answering these questions.                   • address cross-regional or multiple
                                                                                   region’s needs.
                          However, it is also recognised that it is critical
                          to continue the stages outlined in this strategy       Usefulness
                          to help deliver against the Reef Plan targets.
                                                                                 What is the likelihood that the answers can
                                                                                 be adopted by end users by 2018 (or shortly
                                                                                 thereafter)? For example:
                                                                                 • research is outcome focused
                                                                                 • ability of end users to implement research
                                                                                   outcomes is high (e.g. not cost-prohibitive)
                                                                                 • barriers to uptake of outcomes can be
                                                                                   identified and addressed
                                                                                 • effective stakeholder consultation can
                                                                                   be demonstrated.

                                                                                 Feasibility
                                                                                 Ability to successfully address the question.
                                                                                 For example:
                                                                                 • high quality, evidence-based methods and
                                                                                   existing capacity are available to answer
                                                                                   the question
                                                                                 • question could be addressed in the short
                                                                                   term (i.e. five years)
                                                                                 • question could be answered within realistic/
                                                                                   existing budget.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                           Research, Development and Innovation Strategy       12
Appendix 2: Research, development
and innovation priorities 2013–2018

Cane and cropping
 #      Research question                                                Priority area   Theme                         Priority

C1      Refine industry nutrient rates and best practice nutrient Responding             Management effectiveness       High
        management standards based on site specific information,
        e.g. for block yield. Links to C8.

C2      Investigate if enhanced efficiency fertiliser reduces losses     Responding      Management effectiveness       High
        of nitrogen, while maintaining productivity and profitability.
        Links to C8.

C3      Investigate costs and benefits of current and emerging           Responding      Management effectiveness;      High
        best management practices for grower profitability                               Socio-economic analysis
        and industry productivity.

C4      Consolidate existing knowledge of eco-toxicity and efficacy Prioritising;        Integration and synthesis      High
        of commonly used and emerging pesticides                    Responding           of knowledge
        into a conceptual framework.

C5      Improve knowledge around eco‑toxicity of commonly used Prioritising              Ecosystem understanding        High
        and emerging pesticides and their impacts on freshwater
        and marine water quality. Links to E6 and M12.

C6      Investigate the efficacy of pesticides, e.g. through farm        Responding      Management effectiveness       High
        trials to test effectiveness, water quality impacts and
        economics of various pesticides combinations (including
        commonly used and emerging pesticides).
        Links to C10 and C11.

C7      Nitrogen cycle budget: measure/estimate all N inputs,            Responding      Management effectiveness       Medium
        loss pathways and crop N uptake to identify where
        improvements to N use efficiency can be made.

C8      Investigate plant nutrient demand for commonly                   Responding      Management effectiveness       Medium
        grown crops, e.g.
        • nutrient uptake over growing season
        • differences in nutrient uptake between varieties
        • how nutrient management (timing, rate, placement)
           affects nutrient supply.
        Links to C1 and C2.

C9      Better understand nitrogen and phosphorus contributions          Prioritising    Ecosystem understanding        Medium
        from groundwater, surface water and organic sources.

C10     Investigate effectiveness of pesticide application               Responding      Management effectiveness       Medium
        methods and technologies, e.g. spray regimes as
        part of efficacy trials. Links to C6.

C11     Investigate fate of pesticides on—and off—farm, e.g.             Responding;     Management effectiveness       Medium
        • effectiveness of recycling pits/ constructed wetlands          Evaluating
        • fate of pesticides on trash/soil
        • in-stream breakdown and sorption/ desorption
           of pesticides.
        Links to C6.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                        Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   13
#        Research question                                         Priority area   Theme                         Priority

C12       Investigate options to increase and/or maintain long-     Responding      Management effectiveness       Low
          term soil organic carbon (including soil biology).

C13       Investigate potential to set ‘pesticide use efficiency’   Prioritising;   Management effectiveness;      Low
          targets (similar to nitrogen use efficiency) in order     Responding      Socio‑economic analysis
          to achieve Reef Plan targets. What would be the
          socio‑economic implications of achieving these
          pesticide use efficiency targets?

Decision support tools—cane and cropping
Research, development and innovation workshop attendees agreed that development of the following
decision support tools will help producers and other users to understand and implement outcomes from
research, development and innovation projects.

#         Decision support tool                                     Priority area   Theme

C14       Develop decision support tools that help growers:         Responding      Integration and synthesis
          • use N efficiently at block/farm scale                                   of knowledge; Management
          • identify major nutrient loss pathway for soil types/                    effectiveness
            landscape positions.

C15       Develop decision support tool for growers that            Responding      Integration and synthesis
          provides a real time assessment of current N status                       of knowledge; Management
          in crop.                                                                  effectiveness

C16       Develop/update decision support tools to provide          Responding      Integration and synthesis
          advice to growers about:                                                  of knowledge; Management
          • toxicity of pesticides                                                  effectiveness
          • recommended type of pesticides
          • timing on pesticide application.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                     Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   14
Grazing
 #        Research question                                           Priority area   Theme                         Priority

G1        Investigate cost effectiveness and water quality benefit Responding         Management effectiveness;      High
          of specific grazing practices, e.g. on-farm trials of                       Socio‑economic analysis
          riparian grazing management, remediation of gullies/
          scalds and herd management strategies that lead to
          improved land condition.

G2        Investigate options to encourage practice change            Responding      Socio-economic analysis        High
          beyond simply paying landholders, e.g. consider
          the private and public benefits and costs, as well as
          transaction costs involved in a practice change.

G3        Better understand the circumstances that cause              Prioritising    Integration and synthesis      High
          gullies to form, e.g. link gully prevalence data to other                   of knowledge; Ecosystem
          data such as ground cover and soils.                                        understanding

G4        Investigate the potential to use ground cover mapping       Prioritising    Ecosystem understanding        High
          to infer pasture composition, e.g. annuals versus
          perennial grasses. Links to E12.

G5        Quantify changes in erosion rates over time                 Prioritising    Ecosystem understanding        High
          (e.g. current vs pre-European) to improve estimates
          of critical erosion sources in the Fitzroy catchment.

G6        Better understand erosion sources and processes             Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding        Medium
          in the Fitzroy catchment, e.g. by:                          Evaluating
          • gully extent and volume mapping
          • erodible soils mapping
          • sediment tracing.
          Links to E7.

G7        Clarify the relative importance of managing particulate     Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding        Medium
          nutrients from grazing lands for the GBR receiving          Evaluating
          environment. Links to M10.

G8        Investigate the potential to link ground cover mapping      Prioritising    Ecosystem understanding        Low
          to soil condition and implications on hydrology.

G9        Investigate the impacts of broadscale land use              Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding        Low
          on changes in catchment hydrology and run-off
          and potential effects on reef health.

G10       Investigate soil loss in improved pastures relative         Responding      Management effectiveness       Low
          to soil loss in reduced utilisation of native pastures.

G11       Investigate management options to reduce nutrient           Responding      Management effectiveness       Low
          losses from fertilised grazing lands.

Decision support tool—grazing
Research, development and innovation workshop attendees agreed that development of the following
decision support tools will help producers and other users to understand and implement outcomes from
research, development and innovation projects.

#         Decision support tool                                       Priority area   Theme

G12       Update decision support tools for the calculation           Responding      Integration and synthesis
          of stocking rates, e.g. by                                                  of knowledge; Management
          • incorporating updates in climate forecasting                              effectiveness
          • improving input parameters.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                       Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   15
Ecosystem repair
 #        Research question                                         Priority area   Theme                          Priority

E1        Improve understanding of wetland process and             Evaluating       Ecosystem understanding         High
          capacity to improve water quality through sediment,
          pesticide, nutrient and cycling absorption.

E2        Identify wetland characteristics in the landscape        Evaluating       Ecosystem understanding         High
          which maximise contaminant removal.

E3        Investigate sediment accretion rates and changes         Evaluating       Ecosystem understanding         High
          over time for palustrine wetland types.

E4        Assess wetland values and pressures to                   Evaluating;      Ecosystem understanding         High
          identify priorities for intervention and inform          Prioritising
          ongoing management.

E5        Investigate hydrology functions of the range             Evaluating       Ecosystem understanding         High
          of wetland types in the GBR catchments.

E6        Improve understanding of the effects of pesticides       Prioritising     Ecosystem understanding         High
          on in-stream aquatic species and additive effects
          in GBR catchments. Links to C5 and M12.

E7        Investigate the contribution of streambank erosion       Prioritising     Ecosystem understanding;        High
          to fine sediment export, e.g. by analysing rates of                       Integration and synthesis
          streambank migration in conjunction with sediment                         of knowledge
          tracing studies. Links to G6.

E8        Establish knowledge of the critical load of sediments    Evaluating       Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          and nutrients for different wetland types.

E9        Investigate on-ground management of palustrine           Evaluating;      Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          wetlands and evaluate impacts on wetland values          Prioritising
          and functions.

E10       Identify and map weed mat infestations and quantify      Evaluating;      Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          effect of weed mat pollution on the GBR lagoon.          Prioritising

E11       Identify and map groundwater dependent ecosystems. Evaluating             Ecosystem understanding         Medium

E12       Investigate the patterns of vegetation distribution      Evaluating;      Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          across the landscape that relate to sediment and         Prioritising
          nutrient generation, e.g. patchiness/composition
          of ground cover. Links to G4.

E13       Investigate the best way to manage riparian vegetation Evaluating         Ecosystem understanding         Low
          to ensure no net loss of biodiversity, while also
          undertaking practices to improve water quality.

Decision support tools—ecosystem repair
Research, development and innovation workshop attendees agreed that development of the following
decision support tools will help users to understand and implement outcomes from research,
development and innovation projects.

#         Decision support tool                                    Priority area    Theme

E14       Improve decision support tools for the delivery of water Evaluating;      Integration and synthesis
          quality monitoring information and evaluate uptake.      Prioritising     of knowledge

E15       Develop/amend decision support tool to identify          Prioritising;    Integration and synthesis
          most effective landscapes/locations to undertake         Responding       of knowledge; Ecosystem
          rehabilitation of inshore ecosystems.                                     understanding

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                      Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   16
Marine
 #        Research question                                           Priority area   Theme                          Priority

M1        Investigate availability of more consistent temporal        Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding         High+
          and spatial data for key water quality variables and
          their ecological impacts (e.g. P, particulate nutrients).

M2        Investigate the quantitative links between loads            Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding;        High+
          from individual catchments to marine concentrations         Evaluating      Integration and synthesis of
          of nutrients, fine sediments and pesticides.                                knowledge

M3        Investigate transport and transformation of nutrients,      Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding         High+
          organic matter and pesticides in the GBR lagoon after       Evaluating
          flood events.

M4        Investigate the zones of river influence for GBR            Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding;        High+
          catchments using hydrodynamic and pollution                 Evaluating      Integration and synthesis of
          distribution models, e.g. using e-Reefs.                                    knowledge

M5        Strengthen the link between COTS outbreaks                  Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding         High+
          and DIN loads from GBR catchments.

M6        Investigate responses of key GBR ecosystems to:             Evaluating;     Ecosystem understanding;        High
          • multiple flood plumes                                     Prioritising    Integration and synthesis of
          • cumulative impacts of repeated exposure to poor                           knowledge
             water quality and multiple water quality pressures
          • multiple stressors, e.g. flood plumes
             and climate change
          • chronic low-level exposure to herbicides
             and/or nutrients.
          Links to M12 and M13.

M7        Investigate the regional composition and key indicators Evaluating          Ecosystem understanding;        High
          of GBR ecosystems that represent good condition,                            Integration and synthesis
          e.g. collate information on seagrass and corals in                          of knowledge
          Burnett Mary and Cape York.

M8        Investigate the end of catchment load reductions            Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding         High
          required to meet GBRMPA water quality guidelines.           Evaluating

M9        Investigate if achieving GBRMPA water quality               Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding         High
          guidelines will be sufficient to restore coral health
          and resilience, given hysteresis effects.

M10       Investigate the relative impact of sediment,                Prioritising;   Ecosystem understanding         High
          nutrient and pesticides delivered to the reef               Evaluating
          in agricultural run‑off. Links to G7.

M11       Validate remote sensing data for turbidity                  Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          and chlorophyll.

M12       Investigate effects of commonly used and emerging           Prioritsing;    Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          pesticides on marine and coastal ecosystems,                Evaluating
          including various modes of action. Links to M6,
          C5 and E6.

M13       Identify characteristics of seagrass meadows and            Evaluating      Ecosystem understanding         Medium
          mangroves that maintain long-term resilience under
          cumulative impacts of poor water quality, disturbance
          and extreme events. Links to M6.

M14       Improve spatial and temporal understanding                  Prioritsing;    Ecosystem understanding         Low
          of contribution of point sources to pollutants              Evaluating
          in the GBR lagoon and risk to ecosystems.

M15       Investigate the prevalence and effects of other             Prioritsing;    Ecosystem understanding         Low
          pollutants on GBR ecosystems, e.g. micro-plastics,          Evaluating
          oil and heavy metals.

www.reefplan.qld.gov.au                                                                        Research, Development and Innovation Strategy   17
DPC3999
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