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Reef Trust Investment Strategy Phase V

The Phase V Investment Strategy has a strong focus on co-investment and partnership with the community and private sector to maximise benefits to the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Government is providing $9.5 million for two new projects to improve reef health with an estimated co-investment from industry and community partners of $17.8 million.

Reef Trust Phase IV - Repeated tenders: Round 1 projects announced

Reef Trust Repeated Tenders - Wet Tropics and Burdekin is a Reef Trust Phase IV investment that will engage farmers in the Wet Tropics and Burdekin natural resource management regions to reduce nitrogen loss to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The first round of successful tenders have been announced by the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Details of future rounds will be published on the Repeated Tenders website as they become available.

Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosion Control Program is now closed

The program seeks to expand current Reef Trust investment in sediment reduction through broadening the scope of investments in gully remediation and stream bank erosion, and expanding uptake of grazing best management practice and riparian management. The Department invited applications for projects that target priority connected systems containing high gully density and/or vulnerable stream bank and riparian zones.

The applications period closed on 15 December 2016. It is anticipated successful projects will be announced in February 2017.

Reef Trust - Partnerships for the Reef

The Reef Trust invites you to consider Partnerships for the Reef, showcasing opportunities for the private and philanthropic sectors to partner with Reef Trust to help conserve our national treasure – the Great Barrier Reef.

About the Reef Trust

Great Barrier Reef

The Australian Government has committed $210 million to the Reef Trust to provide innovative, targeted investment focused on improving water quality, restoring coastal ecosystem health and enhancing species protection in the Great Barrier Reef region.

The Reef Trust is one of the key mechanisms assisting in the delivery of the Reef 2050 Plan, focusing on known critical areas for investment—improving water quality and coastal habitat along the Great Barrier Reef, controlling the current outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish and protecting threatened and migratory species, particularly dugong and turtles. The Reef Trust has a strong focus on evaluation and adaptive management, to ensure it effectively contributes to the long-term sustainable management of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Reef Trust is designed to allow for the consolidation of investment from a wide range of sources to deliver the greatest outcome for the Reef from every dollar spent. It seeks to complement existing Reef investment by providing prospective investors with new opportunities to support the delivery of conservation and protection projects that align with the desired outcomes of the Reef Trust.

The Reef Trust is being delivered by the Australian Government, in collaboration with the Queensland Government, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Reef Trust governance and administrative arrangements are in place to ensure all funds are effectively managed and directed towards priority on-ground actions. These arrangements leverage and complement the broader governance structure and processes for the Reef 2050 Plan and sit alongside arrangements for the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013.

Reef Trust investments are based on the best available science and consider opportunities to build on existing efforts by governments, natural resource management organisations and industry.

Independent expert advice on Reef Trust funding priorities is provided by the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel, chaired by the former Australian Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb.

Further information

General Enquiries

Email: Reef2050@environment.gov.au