Assessing the cost for pollutant load reductions in the Great Barrier Reef: a case study

Abstract

The slow progress of pollutant reduction towards the Great Barrier Reef water quality improvement plan targets has increased the pressure to achieve more cost effective outcomes. Consistency in how costs are captured for different policy mechanisms from the paddock scale to the catchment scale would allow more robust evaluation of achieving overall pollutant reduction targets. Progress in the Paddock to Reef monitoring and modelling program (P2R) in the areas of landholder adoption, ground cover and monitoring the program have improved decision making. However, the costs involved in current optimization approaches have data paucity, and could be improved with more consistent, and comprehensive data to evaluate investments. This paper provides a framework on how economic data could be collected to integrate into Paddock to Reef program to optimise investments.