“Beneath Your Feet” Pesticide Stewardship

Our Projects

Promoting Conservation Stewardship

“Beneath Your Feet” Pesticide Stewardship

This project integrates fine-scale water quality monitoring with targeted extension to improve pesticide management in the Mackay-Whitsunday region. By linking local groundwater data to farm-level practices, the project fosters a resilient stewardship mindset that protects both the Great Barrier Reef and local community health.

About this project

This project addresses the high toxic loads of pesticides identified in the Mackay-Whitsunday catchments by accelerating the adoption of responsible pesticide management. It focuses specifically on the Plane and Pioneer basins, where it monitors farm bores, mixing sites, and domestic water tanks to identify point-source pollution. A unique element of the project is its engagement with farm women and households, identifying them as a vital, untapped resource for promoting pesticide safety and long-term practice change.

Our approach

The project employs a technical-social hybrid methodology that combines water ecology with behavioural science. We collect real-time data through automated runoff samplers and bore water analysis, providing individual growers with benchmarked, de-identified reports to stimulate farm-level discussion. This technical work is paired with communication strategies designed by social scientists to establish trust and influence local norms, ensuring the water quality message is clear, accessible, and grounded in local evidence.

Goals/key achievements

Building on the success of Project Bluewater, which engaged over 125 growers and substantially reduced waterway risk, this project aims to:

  • Establish Baselines: Monitor 20 public bores and 20 farm bores to track pesticide and nitrogen levels in groundwater.
  • Identify Risks: Use autosamplers at mixing sites to quantify point-source runoff during spraying and rain events.
  • Innovate Engagement: Deliver specialised pesticide safety workshops for farm women to broaden the scope of extension activities.
  • Benchmark Performance: Provide growers with a Pesticide Risk Unit rank to help them compare their runoff risk against regional cohorts.
  • Ensure Legacy: Create farm-specific management plans and public-facing data portals to prevent a reversal of improved practices.

Status

Ongoing

The project is ongoing, following the conclusion of its predecessor, Project Bluewater, in May 2024. Current work is focused on finalising grower engagement strategies with input from social scientists and commencing the first round of seasonal groundwater sampling across the Plane and Pioneer basins.

Project Partners

Understanding People and Nature

Research That Makes a Difference

We explore how people connect with the environment from urban green spaces to ocean reefs, and develop strategies to promote conservation stewardship and meaningful engagement with the natural world. Through citizen science, community partnerships, and innovative communication strategies, we’re working to strengthen the connections between people and nature for lasting conservation impact.