Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics

29/09/2026

🎣 All the action from the Tilapia Takedown. Thanks for reeling in this invasive pest and being a waterway hero 💙

The Tilapia Takedown was delivered by the Healthy Waters Partnership, OzFish Unlimited and Townsville City Council, with prizes provided by Magnetic Island Ferries, Northern Beaches Leisure Centre, Tackle World Townsville, Design Works Apparel.

28/09/2026

This week, we say goodbye to our home at the Port of Townsville Limited. For the past 4.5 years, the Partnership has been proudly hosted by the Port.

As one of our founding members, the Port has supported the Partnership with representatives on the Technical Working Group and Management Committee, and as data providers. Without this vital environmental data, the annual Waterways Report Card would have significant gaps, reducing our understanding of how the regions’ rivers, creeks, coasts and reefs are faring.

Their support has also extended into the community. The Port has joined Partnership events as stallholders, provided native plants to giveaway, and supplied resources that has helped us deliver events designed to build water literacy and inspire environmental stewardship.

Partnership staff and interns have had the opportunity to join Port teams in the field, taking part in water quality monitoring, mangrove surveys, Aussie Bird counts, restoration planting and clean-up events.

The Port has also championed the Waterways Report Card by helping us connect with industry stakeholders and showcase the importance of science-backed decision-making for our region’s waterways.

To everyone at the Port who supported the Partnership over the years, and to those who brightened our days with a friendly chat around the coffee machine or a “good morning”, we thank you.

We look forward to continuing this valued relationship as we transition to a new host organisation, which we will be sharing soon.

📸: Shakira Sellen, Jo Hurford, Jess Crabb

25/09/2026

🎣 When the rain came down, the tilapia reel-y started biting!

Despite the wet weather, anglers turned out for the Tilapia Takedown at Anderson Gardens, reeling in 103 tilapia weighing a combined 43.5 kgs 👏

The Takedown Team winners caught nearly a quarter of the total catch between five anglers. While the two youth categories reeled in the longest catches of the day – measuring 35 cm. They weren’t the only whoppers, with nearly a quarter of tilapia caught measuring 30 cm or more.

A huge congratulations to all our winners, and a massive thank you to everyone who braved the rain, cast a line and helped our waterways by reeling in this invasive pest.

The day wouldn’t have been possible without our event delivery partners, OzFish Unlimited and Townsville City Council, our stall holders (Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc, North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC), and Tangaroa Blue) or the businesses who supported the event with prizes – Magnetic Island Ferries, Northern Beaches Leisure Centre, Tackle World Townsville, Design Works Apparel.

📸: Cameron Laird Photography and Jo Hurford

21/09/2026

🔎 Sandy feet, sharp eyes, and plenty of discoveries

We joined Townsville's Green STEM students at Rowes Bay for two hands-on seagrass monitoring sessions, giving students a chance to step into the shoes of environmental scientists.

From estimating seagrass cover and identifying species to counting critters and measuring seagrass length, students put their observation skills to the test.

These real-world field activities help students learn about the importance of seagrass habitats and intertidal zones, while gaining insight into the techniques used to monitor our coastal environments.

It's always inspiring to see the next generation of environmental stewards developing the curiosity and skills that will help care for our waterways 💙

📸: Jo Hurford

16/09/2026

We're getting to the bottom of a litter problem... and it starts with these butts. How many can you spot?

This was taken where The Great Spring Clean: The Big Butt Hunt – Townsville is happening on Sunday.
Our Partners, OzFish Unlimited, TIDY Up Townsville Group and Earthwatch Australia, will be collecting and counting the country’s most littered item. The clean-up is part of the nationwide initiative led by No More Butts, with data contributing to a national snapshot of cigarette butt pollution.

📅: Sunday, 20 September
⏰: 8:30am – 10:30am
📍: JCU Building 46 (meet in carpark)

More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1089358250114150
📸: Jo Hurford

16/09/2026

🎣 Wherever you flick a line, there’s one thing no one wants to catch – discarded fishing line and tackle.

For years, discarded fishing gear has been one of the most common items collected during coastal clean-ups across Australia. So much so, that more than half a million metres of fishing line has been recorded in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database – that’ll stretch from Townsville to Airlie and back again.

Rather than seeing a waste problem, Tangaroa Blue saw an opportunity.

Through its Rig Recycle program, recreational fishers now have a practical way to recycle used fishing tackle ⬇️
🕶️ monofilament fishing line is transformed into polarised sunglass frames
🐟 plastic line spools are repurposed into bait board scrapers
🪝 and some gear, such as hard-bodied lures, are being repaired and donated to social fishing charities.

What began as a successful pilot along the Great Barrier Reef has grown into a network of tackle stores, councils and community partners along Australia’s east coast, working together to close the loop on fishing gear and keep waste out of waterways.

📸: Tangaroa Blue Foundation

Tangaroa Blue Foundation's national Rig Recycle initiative is giving recreational fishers a practical way to keep old tackle out of waterways while supporting a circular economy.

14/09/2026

🐟 They’re the cane toad of our waterways – tilapia.

Found at over half the fish monitoring sites in the Waterways Report Card, tilapia are Townsville’s most widespread invasive fish species.

They breed quickly, thrive in tough environmental conditions, and the mothers are very protective – carrying eggs and young in their mouths, which can survive even after she dies.

Learn why they’re such a problem, what to do if you catch one, and how you can help protect local waterways via 🔗 in comment.

🎣 Help us reel in this invasive pest at the Tilapia Takedown, a free, family-friendly fishing competition. Bookings essential: www.trybooking.com/DPBLY

10/09/2026

🎣 Ready to help tackle Townsville’s most unwanted fish?

Join us at the Tilapia Takedown - a family-friendly fishing competition.

Cast a line, catch as many tilapia as you can, and help reel in this invasive pest that harms the health of our waterways. Then explore information stalls, grab a snag from the BBQ and see who takes home prizes for the longest tilapia!

Every fish caught makes a difference. Tilapia removed during the Takedown will be recycled through Townsville City Council’s Healthy Soils program.

🎫 Free, but bookings essential via 🔗 in the comments.

This event is delivered by the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics, OzFish Unlimited and Townsville City Council, with prizes supported by Design Works Apparel, Magnetic Island Ferries, Northern Beaches Leisure Centre, and Tackle World Townsville.

Please note, fishing is not allowed in Anderson Gardens at any other time.

09/09/2026

Want to know how healthy a waterway is? Ask the fish.

🐟 Fish can tell us a lot about the health of our rivers and creeks. Healthy waterways tend to support a diverse range of native species, while waterways under pressure are often dominated by a smaller number of non-native species.

Hook into these 5 facts about fish health in Townsville’s rivers and creeks.

📸: Jo Hurford, Creekwatch Townsville, Geoff Collins

08/09/2026

🏈 The Cowboys might not have got the result we were all hoping for on Saturday night, but there were still plenty of winners off the field at the Cowboys Community Corner.

With nearly 19,000 people at the Cowboys’ last home game before the finals push, we had the chance to chat with a broad cross-section of the community about waterway health.

The kids dominated our dog poo toss challenge, racking up perfect 3-from-3 scores, while parents fell short, only managing 2-from-3. Even JT stepped up to take aim!

It was a fun way to tackle a serious issue, share the latest Waterways Report Card and talk about the simple things we can all do to help the health of our rivers, creeks, and coasts.

📸: Cowboys Community and Jo Hurford