Release of water quality report for Norfolk Island

I welcome the release of the CSIRO’s report assessing Norfolk Island’s water quality, following three years of detailed sampling, testing and analysis.

The report and its findings provide us with critically important information and direction for the future, providing a baseline assessment on the state of surface, ground and marine water in the Kingston catchment, to support management and next steps.

I thank everyone involved in gathering and collating this crucial data, which will inform our future sustainability.

What the data shows us is that the quality of ground and surface water entering Emily and Slaughter Bays often contains high levels of contamination, including from nutrients that impact on the health of coral. The health of the Emily and Slaughter Bay reef will continue to decline if we do not improve water quality.

The Water Quality Working Group (WQWG) which was established to coordinate the management of issues impacting water quality will now use the CSIRO’s analysis to determine additional actions and priorities. Its members include representatives from the Department of Infrastructure, Parks Australia, Norfolk Island Regional Council and my office.
The management of water quality is not a single-solution issue. Improving the water quality of Norfolk Island’s reefs will require action and effort across the board, which is why bringing multiple parties together through the working group is important.

Several important actions are already under way to address water quality impacts. The Australian Government has already taken steps to improve water quality with vital upgrades to the sewer system in Kingston, supporting reduced human waste pollution and improving water quality in waterways flowing into the marine park. Options for more sustainable grazing management, which supports both cattle health and improvements in water quality, are being developed for consideration by all involved.

I urge the Norfolk Island community and interested groups to take the opportunity to read the key findings of the report and take the opportunity to understand them through the upcoming on-island engagements supported by CSIRO.

I once again thank the CSIRO and everyone involved in this important piece of work. To read the full report, along with the CSIRO’s report on acid sulphate soils in Kingston, go to: https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-environment/water/Water-resource-assessment/Norfolk/Publications

George Plant
Administrator of Norfolk Island
10 October 2024