The Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIPs) have been a key document developed by the NRM groups to guide investment into actions to improve water quality in Queensland to improve water quality to the Great Barrier Reef.

These plans were generally developed in a best for business manner regionally, but the science had advanced over time and the regional WQIPs were no longer considered to be consistent with the revised Scientific Consensus Statement, the Reef 2050 WQIP targets, and the updated Paddock to Reef monitoring and modelling program design.

Alluvium was engaged to evaluate the case for the development of improved, consistent and regionally appropriate WQIPs to manage impacts from landscape processes on local waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the design and implementation of the regional WQIPS as a basis for an update of the plans to ensure their alignment with the 2050 Reef WQIP.

The work undertaken included a comprehensive engagement process and identified essential data to inform action planning and investment prioritisation. The work was intended to contribute to the development of business cases for updating the WQIPs by identifying gaps and areas for improvement for the regional WQIPs and ultimately ensure their relevance and usefulness for stakeholders and improved investment prioritisation.