Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics

Home
Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics

We’re a collaboration of more than 20 organisations, keeping watch on Dry Tropics waterways. We will try to join the conversation where possible.

Welcome to an online community of people who care about the health of Dry Tropics waterways and welcome your posts on our wall. We respectfully ask that participants use this page to contribute to constructive discussions about Townsville waterways and the Reef. Users are advised: • Our page is not intended as a platform for political or lobbying activities, and we ask that you do not mak

e repetitive postings on the same issue or make unreasonable demands or posts.

• The Healthy Waters Partnership independently assess data from a wide range of organisations. Our page is intended to provide accurate information on the health of our local waterways. Constructive comments are welcome, however, must be positive and not politically charged.

• Our employees are to be treated with respect and consideration.

• The Partnership’s responses to comments and messages in Facebook are:

- Based on available information through our website (drytropicshealthywaters.org) or other publications; and
- General in nature in that we may not specifically address all comments and messages, but we can provide information that we think may assist participants on particular topics raised. Due to the small staff capacity, our team monitors media pages once per day, and aims to respond to comments within 48 hours. To ensure a safe and respectful environment, please do not make postings that:

- Are abusive, defamatory, obscene, offensive, discriminatory or insulting
- Include profanity
- Are illegal or a violation of copyright, intellectual property law or any other laws
- Provide personal information such as the address or phone number of yourself or another person
- Promote a business or other commercial interest. Are identical to previous posts which you have already made. We reserve the right to remove any posts and/or block any users that breach these terms of use. We are not obliged to reinstate any individual we block. Please also refer to and comply with Facebook's Rights and Responsibilities statement.

13/08/2026

5️⃣ Regional Report Card Partnerships are tracking waterway health in Reef catchments.

Why? Because every region faces different challenges, and local data helps drive local solutions to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

🎥 Watch to find out what makes each of us unique.

Wet Tropics Waterways, Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership, Fitzroy Partnership for River Health, and Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership who produced the video.

11/08/2026

Our waterways are cleaner, with nearly 12 tonnes of rubbish removed!

Across 20 days, 78 volunteers, including our Partner Tidy Up Townsville and us, helped Ocean Crusaders recover an incredible 11,930 kilograms of waste from the Bohle, Ross and surrounding waterways.

Every tyre, trolley and bag of rubbish removed is one less eye sore and threat to the creeks, rivers and coastal areas that make Townsville special. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort!

Not sure what 12 tonnes of rubbish looks like? Swipe to see the mammoth difference made and how it all adds up.

This clean-up was funded through the Queensland Government’s Environmental Recovery Grant Program.

📸: Jo Hurford and Ocean Crusaders

10/08/2026

💦 Think you know your waterways? Our Tributary Trivia teams certainly weren't out of their depth! 😆

From the Maggie Jets and Mudskippers to Smart Sugar and The Backwaters, teams made a real splash when we celebrated the release of the latest Waterways Report Card.

They proved their current knowledge, tackling questions on everything from local waterways to water-themed music and sport. It was neck-and-neck right to the finish, with three teams tied before a sudden-death showdown crowned our winners!

Thank you to these sponsors for the generous prizes:
🌱 Atlas Soils, transforming Townsville’s organic waste into high-quality soil and supporting a circular economy.

🌿 Wildlife Surrounds, contributing to the conservation of Australian flora and fauna through education, research and collaborative conservation programs.

🍹Tan Lines Distilling, Townsville’s award-winning gin distillery showcasing Australian ingredients and local heritage.

👙 Funkita and Funky Trunks, creators of vibrant, athlete-designed swimwear.

Back the businesses that back healthy waterways 🙏

📸: Jo Hurford and Cameron Laird Photography

07/08/2026

Help shape the future of waterways in the Dry Tropics as our next Independent Chair.

This independent leadership role will provide strategic direction, support the delivery of the annual Townsville Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card, and foster strong relationships across industry, community, research and government partners working towards a shared vision for healthy waterways.

We’re looking for an experienced leader with strong governance skills, a talent for building relationships, and a passion for driving positive environmental outcomes.

If this is you, or someone you know, view the role via 🔗 in comments or share in your networks.

📆 Applications close Sunday, 30 August 2026.

05/08/2026

🎣 As anyone who wets a line would know, healthy mangroves are fish hangouts, providing shelter and breeding areas for many of the species we love to catch.

In this year’s Waterways Report Card, new data collected by the community strengthened our understanding of mangrove health 🌿

Shoreline Mangrove Condition surveys, delivered through Earthwatch Australia's MangroveWatch citizen science program, assessed mangrove habitat structure, canopy cover and signs of damage or shoreline change.

The addition of this new data stream led to improved habitat grades in the Bohle, Lower Ross and Magnetic Island estuarine areas, with habitat in Ross Basin estuaries now considered in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health.

The role of citizen science in our Report Card is growing. It plays a vital role, helping to fill knowledge gaps and build a stronger connection between the community and local waterways.

A big thank you to the MangroveWatch volunteers and the Port of Townsville Limited who carried out these surveys. Your efforts are helping us better understand the habitats that help keep our waterways healthy. 🩵

📸: Jo Hurford

04/08/2026

Our waterways connect us all 💦💙

Last week, we celebrated the release of the latest Waterways Report Card. One thing stood out – the incredible mix of people in the room. From community groups and environmental organisations to industry, research, education and government representatives, everyone was there because they care about the health of our rivers, creeks, coasts, and reefs.

Together, we explored this year’s Report Card results, discussing where we’re seeing improvements, where pressures remain, and where working together can make the biggest difference.

Of course, it wasn’t all business! Guests put their waterway knowledge to the test with Tributary Trivia and had the chance to take home some fantastic lucky door prizes.

A big thank you to our generous prize sponsors: Atlas Soils, Wildlife Surrounds, Tan Lines Distilling, Funky Trunks, Funkita and Magnetic Island Ferries.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, including Member for Townsville Adam Baillie MP and Wulgurukaba leader and future elder Troy Johnson, and to all our Partners. The Report Card is only possible because of the ongoing collaboration, expertise and commitment of so many people and organisations.

Because when it comes to healthy waterways, no one organisation has all the answers. But together, we can build a better understanding of our waterways, guide investment for targeted action, and empower our community to support healthy waterways across the Townsville Dry Tropics.

Dive into the latest Waterways Report Card via 🔗 in comments.
📸: Cameron Laird Photography

29/07/2026

🌿 Seagrass update: last year’s ‘poor’ seagrass grade was an accidental spoiler for this year.

In the 2025 Waterways Report Card, we got a little ahead of ourselves and included this year’s data instead. That means the seagrass habitat grade for the 2025 reporting period should have been ‘moderate,’ not poor. (We accidentally peeked a year into the future 😅 ).

The decline in seagrass health from ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ in the 2026 Waterways Report Card, was driven by a drop in the amount of seagrass, while the overall size of meadows and the variety of species were relatively stable.

Like many plants, seagrass relies on sunlight to thrive. Tough environmental conditions, such as cloudy skies, strong winds and wave activity reduced light availability, limiting opportunities for growth and recovery.

Seagrass meadows are the guardians of Cleveland Bay. They support recreational fish species, improve water quality and help the health of our coastal ecosystems.

The result underscores how environmental conditions above the surface can shape the health of habitats below it.

28/07/2026

Remember that wet season that felt like it would never end? This year’s Waterways Report Card is here and captures part of the story.

From rivers and estuaries to seagrass meadows and reefs, swipe through the top insights and stay tuned as we dive deeper over the coming weeks.

Find out how your go-to swimming or fishing spot is faring via 🔗 in the comments.

This is the Townsville Dry Tropics' seventh Waterways Report Card, covering July 2024 to June 2025. We couldn’t do this without the ongoing support and work of our Partners. Thank you!

Queensland Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Townsville City Council, Port of Townsville Limited, NQ Dry Tropics NRM, CSIRO, C&R Consulting Pty Ltd, CANOE Projects Inc., MICDA, Jet Zero, Qwalc, Reef Check Australia, OzFish Unlimited, Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc, North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC), TIDY Up Townsville Group, JCU: James Cook University, Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, TropWATER, Tangaroa Blue, Earthwatch Australia, EcoMarines Foundation, Australasian Groundwater and Environmental (AGE) Consultants, Wildlife Surrounds, Reef Ecologic.

Together, we’re keeping watch on our waters 💦

27/07/2026

It’s not just Fairfield Freshwater Wetlands where w**ds are being tackled, so too is the Ross River.

There, the Ross Nest Muncher, an aquatic w**d harvester, targets floating, submerged and marginal w**ds like cabomba, salvinia and water hyacinth.

But why does Council prefer mechanical removal methods over chemicals? 👀 Find out ⬆️

24/07/2026

Have you ever wondered how healthy the places we swim, fish and explore are? 🤔The answers are almost here.

Next week, we’ll release the latest Townsville Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card. A one-stop shop that brings multiple data streams together into a single, science-backed document to reveal the state of Townsville’s rivers, creeks, coasts and reefs.

This collaborative effort wouldn’t be possible without the support of more than 20 partner organisations.

Thank you to all our Partners for helping make this valuable report possible. Together, we’re building a stronger picture of regional waterway health.

Queensland Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Townsville City Council, Port of Townsville Limited, NQ Dry Tropics NRM, CSIRO, C&R Consulting Pty Ltd, CANOE Projects Inc., MICDA , Jet Zero, Qwalc, Reef Check Australia, OzFish Unlimited, Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc, North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC), TIDY Up Townsville Group, JCU: James Cook University, Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, TropWATER, Tangaroa Blue, Earthwatch Australia, EcoMarines Foundation, Australasian Groundwater and Environmental (AGE) Consultants, Wildlife Surrounds, Reef Ecologic.

📸: Sam Gibbs, Jo Hurford, Tourism and Events Queensland

Address

Telephone

+61420962439

Website

https://healthywaterspartnership.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization?

Country:

City: