General News
7 March, 2026
Funding boost for farmers to protect Reef
EIGHTEEN grants totalling $700,000 have been granted to farmers on the Atherton Tablelands to support ways to protect waterways flowing into the Great Barrier Reef while increasing farm resilience, soil health, and biodiversity.
The funding has been distributed as 17 Practice Change Implementation grants that support on-farm infrastructure and land management improvements, and one Education and Capacity Building grant that supports producer learning and knowledge sharing.
The grants are part of the $3 million Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC), a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and Sustainable Table.
ATIC supports Atherton Tablelands producers to transition to regenerative agriculture and improve reef water quality outcomes.
By tackling water quality issues at the top of the catchment, the ATIC aims to reduce sediment and nutrients at the source, before they flow downstream to the Reef.
The organisation says supporting farmers to improve land management where water first enters the system delivers lasting water quality benefits across the entire catchment, protecting both productive farmland and Reef ecosystems.
The 17 Practice Change Implementation grants will focus on practical, on-ground actions such as streambank fencing and off-stream watering points, restoration of riparian areas, composting, and redesigning paddocks to support rotational grazing.
Many projects are using low-input, renewable infrastructure such as solar-powered pumps, and several are being delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners and local catchment groups.
The Education and Capacity Building project will deliver a two-day practical workshop and forum focused on improving pasture productivity, soil health and grazing management while reducing runoff.
The workshop will support peer-to-peer learning and connect participating producers with ongoing extension programs, helping establish longer-term pathways for practice change in a region with historically limited regenerative grazing extension.
Together, these projects are building more resilient farms and supporting long-term transitions to regenerative agriculture across the Atherton Tablelands.
“This project means a great deal to me and my family,” Gabrielle Reynolds, from Redbend Farming, said.
“Our land supports our livelihood and it’s something we care deeply about protecting for the long term.
“I’m passionate about projects like this because they support farmers who wish to adopt sustainable practices that make sense for their land and businesses.
“This funding allows us to invest in practical changes that improve soil health, protect waterways and build resilience on our farm, while also contributing to healthier catchments and the Reef.”
The $3 million Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC) is jointly funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and Sustainable Table.
To find out more email ATIC@sustainabletable.org.au or visit
www.sustainabletable.org.au/projects/cairns-atherton-tablelands
