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Mackay
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REEF guardians are being celebrated in a new report highlighting the projects making waves in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region.
The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership officially released its 2020 Stewardship Report, highlighting 20 of the most critical water quality projects in the region.
Environmentalists, farmers, traditional owners and mining and tourism representatives along with local, state and federal government representatives met to celebrate the report's release on Thursday.
Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership chairwoman Julie Boyd said highlighting successful projects was key to long-term water quality improvements.
"(While) the Report Card demonstrates results and technical data, the Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership identified that there was an opportunity to showcase all types of activities that aim to improve these scores," Ms Boyd said.
One of the projects highlighted was the Eco Barge Clean Seas volunteer clean-ups.
Chair Libby Edge said volunteers had removed 12,748kg of marine debris from the shores of the Whitsunday Islands over the past year.
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Isaac Regional Council's Carmila Beach Campground refurbishment was also highlighted.
Liveability and Sustainability manager Daniel Wagner said one million pieces of repurposed recycled plastic had been used in the upgrade.
But the report was more than paper and statistics, with the environmental partnership commissioning an artwork made of 25kg of marine debris.
Artist David Day made 'Joe the Parrotfish' from 60 thongs, 12 toothbrushes, 31 lighters, eight combs, six bullet cases and several bottle lids, fishing floats, lures, toys and other plastic wastes to highlight the role of the species in the ocean ecosystem.
"When people look at this artwork, I hope they see the types of marine debris that is constantly collected from the beach foreshore and reflect on how they recycle their waste, and make sure that they take home what they take to the beach," Mr Day said.
The art piece will be on display at the Lagoons Cafe in the Mackay Regional Botanic
Gardens until the new year, before touring the region.
This is the second edition of the environmental showcase, which this year focused on preventing plastics from entering waterways.
Read the whole 2020 Stewardship Report here.
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