Secret Queensland Government modelling obtained by the ABC estimates it could cost up to $16 billion to meet water quality targets over the next decade to help save the Great Barrier Reef.
Key points:
- The costings were meant to be included in a key report last week
- It is a preliminary estimate from independent water quality and economic experts
- The $16 billion cost estimate is now undergoing peer review
This figure dwarfs the funding commitments of both the major parties for fighting pollution in the reef.
The initial costings, which were formulated by an independent group of economic and water quality experts, were originally meant to be included in the final report of the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce released last week.
But the modelling was left out so it could be properly reviewed and tested. It is expected to be finished by next month.
But the ABC has obtained a copy of the preliminary modelling which warns that the cost estimate needed "to meet the 2025 targets for the GBR requires a very significant increase in investment from current levels...the total cost of meeting the targets...is $16bn."
"It is a bit more than we thought, it does worry us," said WWF's reef spokesman Nick Heath when the ABC showed him the estimate.
"But it's not out of the ballpark. I think it is a credible figure. It's absolutely billions not millions that will save the reef, yet we've only seen millions from the major parties to date."
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