On Friday 19 July the Healthy Waters Partnership will release its 2024 Townsville Waterways Report Card, revealing grades for the health of our local rivers, creeks, and coastal waters.
The Ross and Black Basins will receive grades for water quality, habitat, and fish life, with results also given for the Bohle River, Bluewater Creek, and Alligator Creek Sub-Basins.
Grades will also be revealed for the health and habitat of Cleveland and Halifax Bays, and Magnetic Island.
The annual Waterways Report Card brings together the best available environmental data collected across our region to build a bigger picture of waterway health.
Last year's 2023 Townsville Report Card saw the Bohle River Freshwater Sub-Basin receive a ‘D — poor’ grade for water quality for the fourth year in a row.
Report Card launch to celebrate waterways art
To mark the release of the annual Report Card, the Healthy Waters Partnership is supporting the Cameron & Co Swim Art Prize — an exhibition of local artworks about connection to swimming and our local waters.
“The people of Townsville love their local waters,” says our Executive Officer, Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins. "We swim, fish, paddle, and dive in our marine and freshwater waterways. This exhibition captures the essence of our connection to our waters.”
The Swim Art Exhibition is open at The Drill Hall Studio until 22 July, featuring art from professionals and up-and-coming artists, celebrating the blue blood that we all share.
On the evening of 19 July, members of the Healthy Waters Partnership will gather with other leaders of the waterway conversation at the Exhibition to release the 2024 Townsville Waterways Report Card.
The next day: Magnetic Island to Townsville swim turns 70.
The Townsville Open Water Swimming Association (TOWSA) will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Magnetic Island to Townsville swim the day after the Report Card is released, on Saturday 20 July.
“There will be a pod of people literally swimming across Cleveland Bay the day after our Report Card reveals its health,” says Kara-Mae.
“Healthy waterways are critical to our wellbeing and that of all the wildlife and ecosystems we live with. Our Partnership is keeping watch on the state of these environments.”
