In the news

On our radar: Townsville volunteer opportunities 'Tis the season to plant trees and pick litter in the tropics, so get your gloves on and go into the new year with that good-deed glow. Make positive change, meet great people, connect with science smarts, and sometimes score a free snag at the volunteer gigs on offer from our partner organisations. Click links below...

Dry Tropics locals hook into free satellite power Land and water managers across our region are connecting to multi-billion-dollar tech — for free. The power of satellite data for better decision-making is no secret. Increasingly, satellite mapping and location tools are being deployed in agriculture, disaster prevention and management, environmental monitoring, marine and coastal management, and water resource management. Vast...

New StoryMap shows drama of local waters Townsville’s Cleveland Bay is a dynamic and dramatic place for water. Rain comes in massive peaks and troughs, cyclones tear across the ocean, and winds and currents stir the coast into a swirling mix of salt, sand, and sediment. Today our Partnership releases a learning experience that shows the many influences at play...

Dry Tropics fish reporting — Doc lures in the data Greg ‘Doc Lures’ Vinall is well known in the North. He’s the founder and host of the Australian Lure Fishing Podcast, an international authority on making wooden fishing lures, author of ten fishing books, a speaker, consultant, and the Independent Chair of the Wet Tropics Waterways regional report card partnership...

Grants open for Townsville projects $150,000 in grants are now available to kickstart 6 community- and Traditional Owner-led projects that will reduce threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville’s first Community Action Plan for Rivers and Reef is now live. The Plan details the issues, ideas, and projects that the people of Townsville want to see prioritised for the health...

Dry Tropics fish reporting — Doc lures in the data Greg ‘Doc Lures’ Vinall is well known in the North. He’s the founder and host of the Australian Lure Fishing Podcast, an international authority on making wooden fishing lures, author of ten fishing books, a speaker, consultant, and the Independent Chair of the Wet Tropics Waterways regional report card partnership...

Students embrace EcoMarines and eco-careers A wealth of environmental expertise was on show in Townsville to inspire the next generation in their future careers. The EcoMarines Foundation’s ‘Wave + Check’ events brought together students from primary and secondary schools across Townsville this week to celebrate eco-activities they’ve implemented through the year under EcoMarines programs, and to explore the possibilities ahead for...

Townsville turns it on to tackle trash Where are Townsville’s waterway litter hotspots? Thanks to the hundreds of heroes who turn out to pick up rubbish and count it, the trashiest sites are now easier to spot. The 2023 Townsville Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card reveals the state of our local creeks, rivers, and coastal waters — and even allocates grades for the litter...

Five minutes with: Marine biologist, Darcy Justin  “From my experience, Australians are more aware and thoughtful towards their reefs than Americans,” says our intern and James Cook University Marine Biology Masters student, Darcy Justin. “In the US, I’d say there are many people that are not aware of the Florida Reef Tract, let alone the impact recent bleaching events have...