In 2016, through BMRG, BCCA implemented an Australian Government funded project to repair and protect river and creek banks in the Burrum River catchment, south of Bundaberg. The Burrum Catchment had the second highest riparian vegetation loss percentage of all the catchments in the Great

Barrier Reef, according to the second Reef Plan Report Card. This loss was compounded by the 2013 extensive flood damage throughout the catchment. The lower Burrum Catchment also has high acid sulphate soil risk.

The Burrum System Repair program seeks to curtail riparian vegetation loss and consequent significant contribution of sediment and nutrient to the GBR through the protection and restoration of riparian areas in the Burrum Catchment. BMRG will partner with land managers to undertake the following actions to assist in the maintenance of riparian vegetation and natural wetlands:

• wetland and riparian cattle exclusion through management fencing
• off-stream watering points (associated with fencing)
• wetland and riparian revegetation
• wetland and riparian critical pest management actions (serious pest weeds and feral pig control)
• riparian erosion and/or bank stabilisation soft engineering works

The Burrum catchment includes the Gregory and Isis Rivers, and their tributaries, and covers an area of approximately 260,000 hectares. About a third of this area is National park or State Forest, but the remaining area has a very diverse landuse, from grazing, to cane and intensive horticulture.

This project was managed by Field Officer Peter Crawford, with assistance from Katie, Melinda and Veronica.  Since Nov 2016 this project is now managed by BMRG, with BCCA now managing the Baffle Reef System Repair program.