At this month’s Green Drinks we were grateful to be joined by Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins and Dinny Taylor from the Healthy Waterways Partnership for the Dry Tropics, along with our current NQCC interns, to unpack the latest Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card.

Kara-Mae shared her journey from wanting to be a shark biologist to realising the bigger picture: to protect sharks, we need a healthy Reef – and to have a healthy Reef, we need healthy land and waterways. Everything is connected – from the water coming out of our taps, to the creeks, rivers, wetlands, and ultimately the Reef.

Healthy waterways aren’t just about water quality tests. They’re about many indicators – like fish and coral abundance, or the state of riparian vegetation along riverbanks. Monitoring is a huge collaborative effort involving science, government, industry, and community groups. The Report Card distills this complexity into an accessible format, making it easier for all of us to understand and act on.

One key example is the Bohle River, which has received a “D” grade for years due to urbanisation and development pressures. While these challenges don’t disappear overnight, the attention it’s receiving shows the importance of long-term restoration efforts.

As Kara-Mae reminded us, sharing knowledge sparks stewardship – when we understand the challenges and opportunities, we’re better equipped to advocate for change and support on-ground projects.

NQCC is proud to have been part of the Healthy Waterways Partnership since its inception, and we’re excited to continue supporting this vital work for our rivers, wetlands, and Reef.

We wrapped up the night with a fun trivia quiz to test our report card knowledge and spark more conversation.

Explore the full Report Card HERE.