UNESCO misinformed about reef health: QLD environment minister

Queensland's environment minister says the World Heritage Committee is being misinformed about the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The UNESCO group is considering whether to list the reef as a World Heritage site in danger.

A colourful scene on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's northeastern coast. (File: AFP/Getty)

A colourful scene on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's northeastern coast. (File: AFP/Getty)

 

Queensland's environment minister says the World Heritage Committee is being misinformed about the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Andrew Powell has travelled to the annual meeting of the UNESCO group in Doha, which is considering whether to list the reef as a World Heritage site "in danger".

Mr Powell says it's important for him to present the real picture, and he does not expect the meeting to list the reef as in danger.

"A lot of misinformation is being conveyed to the World Heritage Committee and to the member states, and that's the importance of why I've come here," Mr Powell told ABC radio on Wednesday.

Reef water quality improved, should stay off UNESCO's 'danger list'

Although the overall health of the Great Barrier Reef is still poor, the federal government says recent improvements in water quality should ensure it stays off UNESCO's in danger list.

The government's report card for 2012/13 shows marine conditions along the vast majority of coastline adjacent to the reef remain poor despite reductions in key pollutants including sediments, nitrogen and pesticides.

But green and environmental groups aren't persuaded the report card will sway the United Nation's environment arm.

"UNESCO won't be fooled, they're concerned specifically about industrialisation of the reef," Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters said.

"Despite welcome gains in reducing agricultural run-off, the reef's inshore water quality remains poor, which will only get worse with mass dredging and dumping planned for the reef's coastline."

UNESCO to decide health of Great Barrier Reef

The World Heritage Committee is expected to consider the health of the reef tonight.

UNESCO is broadly expected to give Australia another year to continue its work ticking off previous recommendations on improving the health of the reef.

The group indicated earlier this year that it would make a decision on the reef's status in 2015.

Any in-danger listing for the reef would admit Australia to an undesirable club that includes the likes of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has all five of its World Heritage sites on the danger list.


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Source: AAP


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