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Home > Resources and Success Stories > Publications > Smart State Strategy Progress Report 2004

Harnessing smart science for the environment

Maintaining the quality of Queensland’s environment in the face of pressing challenges from salinity, drought, vegetation clearing, exotic pests and diseases, climate change and greenhouse gases, has been a Queensland Government priority since 1998. Queensland science and R&D has played an integral role in developing sound policy and industry best practice.

  • Australia is one of only 17 megadiverse countries in the world which together contain more than 80% of the world’s biological diversity
  • Queensland has five of Australia’s 13 world heritage-listed sites, including wet tropics areas, Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Of the approximate half a million species recorded as native to Australia, Queensland is home to about 70% of Australia’s mammals, 80% of birds, 50% of reptiles and frogs and a substantial proportion of invertebrates.
  • 25% of the active components of drugs prescribed in 1996 have their origin in flowering plants, with an additional 10% derived from fungi.


map of Queensland - highlighting Townsville Townsville has one of the world’s largest concentrations of tropical marine scientists and is a global leader in oceans research.

Ongoing research undertaken through the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency is playing a vital role in the Queensland Government’s continuing effort to:

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Xenome – turning poison into profit

Combining skills in genomics, peptide chemistry and pharmacology, Brisbane-based biotech company Xenome has isolated active compounds in animal venom which can be used to make novel pharmaceuticals. Australia has the highest number of venomous creatures in the world and Xenome is well placed to capitalise on this natural advantage. Venom based drugs show promise in diverse areas of treatment such as cancer, high blood pressure and even pain management.

Biodiscovery Bill 2004

Biodiscovery is the search for active compounds in biodiversity such as plants, animals and micro-organisms, that can be developed into commercial products. The Biodiscovery Bill, tabled in Parliament on 18 May 2004, has been developed to capture Queensland’s competitive advantage from its extensive biodiversity. The Bill streamlines access to State land and Queensland waters while ensuring an economic return to the State. Collection Authorities will permit sustainable collections of native biological resources provided benefit sharing agreements are negotiated with the State.

Ecoscience Research Precinct

Planning is underway to create an ecoscience precinct at Boggo Road in Brisbane that will enable critical ICT research modeling studies required to better manage and sustainably develop the state’s ecosystems and natural resources.

Centre for Low Emission Technology

The Premier and the Commonwealth Science Minister officially opened the Centre in Brisbane on 21 November 2003. The Centre will facilitate the research, development, demonstration and commercialisation of technologies that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired electricity generation. The Government’s investment of $9 million has leveraged an additional $19 million from industry and research institutions.

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CRC for Sugar Innovation through Biotechnology

Queensland scientists are working closely with the sugar industry to develop a sustainable and competitive future for sugarcane farmers and millers.

The Queensland Government has committed $1.75 million towards the CRC for Sugar Innovation through Biotechnology, established in 2003, which is undertaking research into the production of valuable biofuels, biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals from Queensland sugarcane.

Queensland Ethanol Industry Blueprint

On 21 June 2004, the Premier launched the Queensland Ethanol Industry Blueprint to encourage development of a sustainable Queensland ethanol industry. The Blueprint includes measures to encourage ethanol-related R&D in Queensland, and to foster the transfer of proven world best practice technologies from other ethanol producing nations such as Brazil and the United States.

A sustainable Queensland ethanol industry will create jobs, particularly in Queensland’s regional areas, contribute to Australia’s fuel security and sustainability, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, diversify and strengthen Queensland’s economy and increase our export base.

Renewable fuels are the way of the future and ethanol is leading the international charge as an alternative to fossil fuels. Export markets and demand are growing as mandates are introduced around the world to require oil companies to include ethanol in fuel for vehicles.

Remote sensing our natural resources: With science of truly international standard, researchers in the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy at Indooroopilly and in the regions are pioneering the development and application of remote sensing techniques using satellite imagery, airborne laser scanning and advanced geographic information systems to assess the extent and condition of our mineral and vegetation resources for improved natural resource management.

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New wave station has a swell start

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wave station in the northern part of Moreton Bay came through its first major challenge in March 2004, successfully riding out a severe storm that whipped up record waves along the South East Queensland coast. The new wave-and-tide monitoring station, part of the network that sends data back to the EPA’s popular wave-monitoring website www.epa.qld.gov.au/waves, is about 3km south of Caloundra Head next to the main shipping channel.


Launching a bioattack on weeds:

Weeds now cost Australia at least $4 billion a year and Queensland about $600 million. They have the potential to devastate our landscapes and reduce agricultural yields. Biological control is one smart way that the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy’s pest management researchers at Sherwood, Charters Towers, Toowoomba and Inglewood are countering the effects of these weeds. Biological control is not only providing cost-effective solutions in our vast Queensland landscapes, it also minimizes the use of pesticides and therefore provides a “clean and green” alternative that reduces the potential for contamination of our crops, soils and waterways.
Last reviewed 19 January 2006
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Social science research for effective natural resource management partnerships:

Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy researcher, Peter Oliver, has undertaken key social science research into the development of effective partnerships between industry, community and government to better manage Queensland’s land, water and biodiversity. Recently awarded a PhD for his work in this area, Dr Oliver has been working with other Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Coastal CRC scientists on ways that:

  • newly established regional bodies can foster collaboration with on-ground community and industry groups to develop and implement regional natural resource management plans throughout Queensland
  • community and industry can work more closely with scientists to use catchment management models to protect downstream and coastal waterways.

The results of Dr Oliver’s work have been used by a number of CRCs throughout Australia. This research was presented at the 2004 International Conference on Sustainable Development Research at University of Manchester and has generated interest and acclaim throughout Australia and overseas.


Saving Dophins and Whales

Queensland Government scientists at Cairns are working with the fishing industry to use acoustic devices to reduce the capture of non-target species in commercial nets. This has proved to be the most effective means of reducing entanglement of dolphins and whales in nets and also deterring these marine mammals from taking fish from nets. As well as saving dolphins and whales, this initiative is earning the industry up to $4 million per year in increased catch.


Wastewater Reverse

With local governments and businesses facing increasing restrictions and pressures to pursue sustainable options for wastewater reuse, Queensland Government scientists are assisting organisations across the State to use wastewater to irrigate hardwood timber plantations. This initiative will reduce the amount of wastewater discharged into waterways, increase the return from harvested timber for domestic use and exports, reduce the costs of processing sewage and provide a renewable fuel source for electricity generation.


Water Use Efficiency

Queensland Government experts have worked with irrigators to implement the latest technology in irrigation management. This work has resulted in each megalitre of irrigation water used by growers on Queensland’s Darling Downs producing an 11% yield increase. The program is critical to the future of irrigated agriculture in Queensland. An annual investment of less than $1 million per year has provided a return of more than $30 million per year to the export focussed grains and cotton industries.


Qld Herbarium maps state’s vegetation

The Queensland Herbarium has released a comprehensive report on the status of 1260 regional ecosystems across 60% of the state’s landmass. Remnant Vegetation in Queensland covers the period from 1997-01, and provides scientific data on the extent of remnant vegetation across the state. Remnant vegetation is all intact and predominantly intact vegetation communities, excluding young regrowth.

The report will be used for policy development and planning by the Queensland Government, local governments, catchment coordinating groups and natural resource management bodies and is based on detailed surveys and mapping, involving interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite imagery and extensive field work. The surveys show that between 1999 and 2001 the Brigalow Belt — which is home to vulnerable plants and animals — was subject to 43% of clearing, more than any other area in the survey.

The Queensland Herbarium is based in Brisbane and is recognised as a national leader in the field of surveying, mapping and monitoring vegetation and regional ecosystems.

The new Caloundra station was set up in partnership with the Port of Brisbane Corporation as part of its under-keel clearance system used for large ships, which allow larger vessels to safely navigate the shallower waters encountered in shipping channels.

Information from the new station will also help the EPA’s scientific monitoring of beach erosion and environmental conditions in the bay, and provide information for the general boating public.