“We support those developments that stack up economically, are environmentally sustainable and do not have major impacts on recreational fishing.

But without a sound scientific basis, we’ll continue to be cautious about both land clearing and water use. Our northern rivers and the fisheries and lifestyles they support are just too valuable to be put in danger like the Murray was.“

Warren de With, President, Amateur Fishermen's Association Northern Territory

 

“We have a huge diversity of stakeholders in the Mitchell River catchment—graziers, irrigators, conservationists, Indigenous landowners, tourism operators, fisheries, mining companies—often with conflicting needs. Nevertheless, we have sat around the table and found a common ground—water quality is our number one issue.

The Mitchell River has the largest annual flow of all tropical rivers in the country and is one of our most ecologically diverse aquatic systems. Yet there are few comprehensive biological and ecological studies of the catchment to date. Without the science, it is difficult for us to manage the catchment sustainably.”

Hilary Kuhn, Chairperson, Mitchell River Watershed Management Group Inc.

About us

In 2007, TRaCK was established as a research hub under the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities Programme - the Australian Government’s commitment to world-class public good environmental research.

A consortium led by Charles Darwin University, CSIRO, Griffith University, Land & Water Australia, the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance and the University of Western Australia has spent two years developing the research programme.

We are providing the science and knowledge that governments, communities and industries need for the sustainable use and management of Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries. 

We are contributing knowledge that can inform the National Water Initiative and be used as independent and objective advice by those making policy, planning and management decisions about northern Australia.

Our research is intended for the public good and our research findings are being made available to the public.

Objectives

Research need

At a time of increasing awareness of the value of water across Australia, it is vital that public debate, policy and management decisions about our tropical rivers and estuaries are informed by sound science.

Around 70 per cent of Australia’s fresh water lies in the rivers and groundwater systems of northern Australia, from Cape York to Broome. Supporting grazing, mining, fishing, agriculture and tourism, most of these rivers, floodplains, wetlands and estuaries are in a healthy state.

The region is home to the world’s oldest living culture and Indigenous Australians actively manage much of the landscape using traditional knowledge and customs.

There are, however, significant gaps in our knowledge.

To help us manage the opportunities and expectations for the rivers and water resources of northern Australia, we need a coordinated research effort that brings together social, economic and environmental disciplines, and strengthens our national and regional research capability.

Cooperation across the north

Drawing together more than 70 of Australia’s leading social, cultural, environmental and economic researchers, we are focusing on Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries with a degree of intensity, coordination and integration not previously seen in the region.

Many of our key researchers live and work in northern Australia, which is strengthening research capability in the region.

We are working with all levels of government; regional natural resource management bodies; Indigenous communities; agriculture, fishing, tourism and mining industries; local communities; and other researchers.

Indigenous Australians own and manage large parts of northern Australia’s catchments and coasts. Engaging them is a critical feature of TRaCK. We are drawing on Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous perspectives on the region’s ecology, and how changes to the ecology can impact Indigenous livelihoods in the region.
Government agencies in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and regional natural resource management bodies across northern Australia strongly support our research.

Partners

Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australian National University
Charles Darwin University
CSIRO
Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
GeoScience Australia
Government of Western Australia
Griffith University
James Cook University
Land & Water Australia
National Water Commission
North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance
Northern Territory Government
Queensland Government
University of Western Australia

Funding

More than $30 million is being invested in TRaCK over four years.

Our major funding sources are:

Our research partners are providing significant additional support, including access to an impressive array of field and laboratory equipment and facilities.

Return to top