Water quality improvement plans
Water quality improvement plans (WQIPs) are catchment- and regional-based water quality management plans. They seek to improve water quality by reducing the amount of key pollutants (e.g. nutrients, sediments, and chemicals) from the Reef catchments that enter the waterways and are carried to the Reef lagoon.
WQIPs build on and enhance the existing water quality management components of regional NRM plans and make a critical contribution to the Reef Plan.
The development of WQIPs is being led by regional NRM bodies and local councils. Additional assistance is provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, CSIRO, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and local communities.
The development of WQIPs is mainly funded through the Australian Government's Coastal Catchments Initiative (CCI), a program under the Natural Heritage Trust. The CCI aims to address sources of land-based pollution to coastal water quality 'hot spots' through the development and implementation of WQIPs across Australia.
Last updated 16 July 2008