Mackay researcher chairs think tank for new waterways alliance
Published on 08 April, 2011
CQUniversity Mackay researcher Dr Judith Wake has taken on the role of Chair of the Ecosystem and Water Quality Think Tank, which feeds expert scientific and technical advice into the new Healthy Waterways Alliance for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac regions.
The new waterways alliance body was officially launched at our Mackay Campus on April 7, bringing together key organisations with an interest in waterway health from across the state and region, creating a strategic partnership to improve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health.
Dr Wake said the Ecosystem and Water Quality Think Tank was established to:
- develop a prioritised program of regional water quality management strategies based on implementation of the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan; and
- provide coordinated recommendations on design analysis, interpretation and reporting for regional water quality monitoring and evaluation programs
"It includes scientific experts from state and local governments, natural resource managers, scientific research institutions and the community," she says.
Dr Wake was a member of the Scientific Reference Panel for the Water Quality Improvement Plan and conducted research into mangrove ecosystem health as part of that plan.
She was involved in a presentation on the launch day as well as a follow-up talk on mangrove monitoring in the Pioneer River as part of a post-launch field trip.