Tourism bounty to conserve the Great Barrier Reef

North Queensland tourism operators will be paid for Great Barrier Reef conservation work and heritage sites will be upgraded as part of a $61.7m program.

The Great Barrier Reef

North Queensland tourism operators will be paid for Great Barrier Reef conservation work and heritage sites will be upgraded around the nation as part of a $61.7m program.

Funds will come from the Morrison government’s $1bn COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund and be included in the federal budget.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the initiatives would sustain jobs and local businesses, improve facilities and encourage people to visit regional communities and world heritage sites.

“We are talking about projects that will create lasting legacies in regional centres, small towns and on the Great Barrier Reef, which will be a big boost to local communities”, Mr McCormack said.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the government would work with Nature ­Conservancy to restore native shellfish reefs lost decades ago through over-fishing and ­dredging.

“At the same time, we will be embarking on a major program to support national and world heritage sites that will help preserve and enhance these areas while making them more accessible to Australians wanting to appreciate their unique qualities,” Ms Ley said.

Tourism operators who were struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be paid to monitor coral condition, control native pest outbreaks and restore local reef sites.

Thirty-three heritage projects will be delivered in partnership with states, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island, with a focus on providing immediate economic stimulus through local job creation.

More than $33m will be spent upgrading infrastructure across 23 national and world heritage sites.

Another $20m will be spent restoring shellfish reefs in at least 11 bushfire and COVID-19 affected coastal communities.

More than $8m will be spent on Great Barrier Reef projects, including $3.2m earmarked to engage tourism operators in reef monitoring.