Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership

What Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership does

Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership is a multi-stakeholder non-profit collaboration established in October 2014 and based at Reef Catchments in Mackay, Australia. It convenes 40 member organizations — including major industry operators (Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal/DBCT, BMA, North Queensland Bulk Ports/NQBP), three regional councils, tourism operators, and natural resource management bodies — to coordinate catchment-scale waterway health management across the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region. The partnership operates with a small core team (~5 staff) under an industry/community Chair and a multi-tier governance structure.

Its core products are the annual Report Card for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region (since 2021), the multi-year Above and Beyond Stewardship Report series (7th edition released 2025), and an Interactive Results Dashboard launched in 2024 that surfaces approximately 10 years of continuous waterway health monitoring data. Underlying the Report Card is a fixed methodology that aggregates ecological, water-quality, and habitat indicators into a publicly scored regional assessment, and a partnership-driven reporting cycle that aggregates member-funded stewardship activities.

The business model is non-profit: revenue is sourced from undisclosed membership contributions plus project-specific grants and pass-through funding from industry and government partners (including DBCT/DBI through 2026). There is no disclosed pricing model for individual deliverables, and no commercial productization of the dashboard or data assets. The partnership's customer base is its 40 voting members, with concentrated financial dependence on a small number of large industry funders.

Name

Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership

Legal name

Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership

Website

https://healthyriverstoreef.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership is a Mackay-based multi-stakeholder non-profit, founded 2014, that convenes 40 member organizations — including DBCT, BMA, NQBP, three regional councils and tourism operators — to coordinate catchment health monitoring and produce the annual Report Card for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Monitoring Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Waterway health monitoring
• Environmental report cards
• Reef water quality
• Catchment stewardship
• Marine data assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mackay

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner Membership Fees: Tiered membership contributions based on organization type and size, payable annually. Partners include government, industry, tourism, agriculture, conservation, research, and Traditional Owner groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Partnership produces and publishes an Annual Waterway Health Report Card that grades the condition of freshwater basins, estuaries, and marine zones in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region on an A–E scale. It operates supporting monitoring programs (Southern Inshore Monitoring Program, Project Blueprint, Whitsundays Litter Monitoring), delivers the Urban Water Stewardship Framework for councils, runs the STEM Schools education program, and curates an Interactive Results Dashboard that integrates 10 years of monitoring data from government, research, and citizen science providers into a single regional resource for stewardship decision-making.

Product overview

The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership operates a multi-component environmental monitoring and reporting platform centred on the Annual Waterway Health Report Card for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region. The core Report Card grades waterways from A to E across freshwater basins, estuaries, and marine zones, accessible via an Interactive Results Dashboard with 10 years of historical data. Supporting monitoring programs include the Southern Inshore Monitoring Program (seagrass, coral, water quality), Project Blueprint (tourism-linked water sampling in the Whitsundays), and the STEM Schools Ripple Effect Program (youth engagement). The Partnership also delivers the Urban Water Stewardship Framework (council assessment), Cultural Heritage Assessments, and the Social and Economic Long-Term Monitoring Program (SELTMP). The Above and Beyond Stewardship Report showcases partner projects, and the Activities Spotlight Mapping Tool maps partner initiatives by location and indicator. The product portfolio functions as a collaborative data integration platform combining government, research, industry, and citizen science data to inform regional waterway management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Waterway Health Report Card Annual assessment of waterway condition across the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region, covering freshwater basins, estuaries, and marine zones. Grades range from A (Very Good) to E (Very Poor) and are released each July for partners, government, industry, and the public.
• Interactive Results Dashboard Web-based dashboard allowing users to explore 10 years of Report Card data across freshwater, estuary, and marine zones, with filtering capabilities for partners, researchers, and the public.
• Southern Inshore Monitoring Program Partnership-led monitoring program collecting data on seagrass, coral, and water quality for coastal waters between Cape Palmerston and Clairview Bluff. Data fills a critical gap for dugong and turtle habitat assessment and feeds the Report Card.
• Project Blueprint Project Blueprint Combines waterway health monitoring with tourism and traditional culture; involves monthly water sampling at Cairn Beach and Tongue Bay in the Whitsundays with scientists and Traditional Owners travelling on tourism boats.
• STEM Schools Ripple Effect Program Full-day workshops where students learn about waterway pressures, coding skills, and design thinking to solve water quality challenges. Partnered with STEM Punks educators.
• Whitsundays Litter Monitoring (Gross Pollutant Trap Project) Installed litter traps in 15 locations across the Whitsundays to collect and analyse debris, prevent it entering waterways, and inform litter reduction actions; partnered with Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
• Urban Water Stewardship Framework Assessment tool for evaluating how regional councils manage erosion, stormwater, and sewage relative to best practice and legislative standards. Works with Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac regional councils.
• Above and Beyond Stewardship Report Annual celebration of waterway stewardship projects and initiatives undertaken by Partnership organisations, showcasing investment, monitoring, on-ground action, and innovation across the region.
• Activities Spotlight Mapping Tool Interactive map-based tool allowing users to search for partner activities by organisation, location, or activity type, linking activities to Report Card indicators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ partner retention with founding members still active
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBCT P/L has been part of the Partnership since its inception and fully funded the Southern Inshore Monitoring Program between 2017 and 2019. The program collects data on seagrass, coral, and water quality for the Southern Inshore Marine Zone, filling a critical data gap for habitat of dugongs and turtles.
• Dalrymple Bay InfrastructurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBI came on board as a funding partner for the Southern Inshore Monitoring Program in 2019. Both DBCT P/L and DBI recently signed on to continue funding until at least 2026, securing continued data collection.
• BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMA is a funding partner for Project Blueprint, which combines waterway health monitoring with tourism and traditional culture in the Whitsundays. BMA also funds the STEM Schools Program and various other Partnership initiatives.
• North Queensland Bulk Ports CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNQBP is a funding partner for Project Blueprint and conducts coral and seagrass monitoring at Abbot Point, Mackay, and Hay Point ports. They contribute to the Partnership's monitoring data and scientific input.
• Ocean RaftingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism operator providing regular passage to the Whitsundays for Project Blueprint, welcoming scientists and Traditional Owners on board monthly to facilitate water sample collection.
• Red Cat AdventuressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism operator supporting Project Blueprint by providing passage for water sampling activities and contributing to community engagement in the Whitsundays.
• James Cook University (TropWATER)coreTechnology or IntegrationTropWATER (Centre of Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research) processes water quality samples and conducts seagrass monitoring. Key research partner for Southern Inshore Monitoring Program and Project Blueprint data analysis.
• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAIMS contributes coral monitoring data for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program and Southern Inshore Monitoring Program. Provides technical expertise and annual coral reports for the Report Card.
• CSIROcoreTechnology or IntegrationCSIRO delivers the Social and Economic Long-Term Monitoring Program (SELTMP) and contributes to reef fish citizen science data assessment. Scientific partner acknowledged for report card input.
• Reef CatchmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Resource Management Group for the Mackay-Whitsunday region and the host organization for the Partnership. Provides technical and communication support for Report Card development.
• NQ Dry TropicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional NRM body providing technical and communication support for Report Card development. Collaborates with Technical Working Group for regional monitoring coordination.
• Tangaroa Blue FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Whitsundays Litter Monitoring project, sharing Ditch the Flick messaging and using Australian Marine Debris Initiative database. Partnership supported installation of cigarette butt bins.
• Reef Check AustraliasupportingTechnology or IntegrationContributes coral monitoring data for Whitsunday and Offshore Zones. Citizen science partner for the Report Card monitoring network.
• Whitsunday Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner participating in Urban Water Stewardship Framework. Installed and maintains litter traps from Whitsundays Litter Monitoring project. Represents one of three councils in the region.
• Mackay Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Urban Water Stewardship Framework. Collaborates on environmental projects with DBCT P/L and other partners through the Partnership network.
• Isaac Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Urban Water Stewardship Framework assessment. Working with Partnership on Liveability and Sustainability initiatives.
• Department of Environment and Science (Queensland)coreTechnology or IntegrationGovernment partner providing data for Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program, estuary monitoring, and fish community assessment. Scientific advisor for report card.
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthoritycoreTechnology or IntegrationGBRMPA provides coral monitoring data through Marine Monitoring Program and Representative Areas Program. Technical Working Group partner and scientific advisor.
• CANEGROWERS MackaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural peak body representing sugarcane growers. Partner in waterway stewardship activities and provides agricultural extension perspective on water quality improvements.
• STEM PunkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert educators partnered with the Partnership to inspire and engage students in science-related fields using the Report Card for local context and real-world connection.
• CQU (Central Queensland University)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner contributing to Carmila Creek Estuary Study and fish assemblage monitoring. Scientific advisor acknowledged for report card input.
• Mackay Conservation GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO partner participating in STEM Schools Program and Partnership activities. Represents conservation perspective in the Partnership.
• Reef Catchments Traditional Owner Reference Group (TORG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Traditional Owner Reference Group with representatives from Yuwibara, Koinmerburra, Barada Barna, Wiri, Ngaro, Gia, and Juru peoples. Leads cultural heritage assessments and Traditional Owner engagement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership: Independent report card partnership assessing Gladstone Harbour in central Queensland. Same independent report card model, similar multi-stakeholder structure, and comparable scientific methodology for waterway health.
• Townsville Dry Tropics Partnership: Operates an annual Report Card for the Burdekin Dry Tropics region in north Queensland using a near-identical methodology and shares a Technical Working Group with HR2RP. Directly comparable in scope, governance model, and product offering.
• Healthy Land & Water: South East Queensland's regional waterway and land health partnership; the established precursor to the HR2RP model. Publishes the well-known Healthy Land & Water Report Card and is the most mature comparable partnership in Australia.
• Wet Tropics Waterways Partnership: Regional waterway health partnership producing report cards for the Wet Tropics region of north Queensland. Operates under the same report card framework and collaborates with HR2RP through the shared Technical Working Group.

Broad incumbents

• Great Barrier Reef Foundation: Larger national-scale nonprofit funding reef health research, innovation, and on-ground action across the Great Barrier Reef. Operates broader in scope but directly overlaps with HR2RP's water quality and reef monitoring mission.
• NQ Dry Tropics: Neighbouring NRM body covering the Townsville region and co-collaborator with HR2RP through the regional Technical Working Group. Broader land and water portfolio than HR2RP but deeply tied to the report card ecosystem.
• Reef Catchments: The Mackay-Whitsunday Natural Resource Management body and host organization for HR2RP. Broader remit spanning land, water, biodiversity, and pest management across the region; effectively the institutional parent for the Partnership.

Others

• Australian Marine Sciences Association: National peak scientific body for marine science. Not a direct competitor but a related ecosystem participant whose membership and conferences overlap with the research partners (AIMS, JCU, CSIRO) that supply HR2RP's core data.

Regional players

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Regional nonprofit dedicated to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the United States. Comparable as a regional waterway health advocacy and science organization, though operating at a much larger scale and with different governance.

Emerging players

• Moreton Bay Foundation: Regional environmental foundation focused on the health of Moreton Bay in South East Queensland. Shares the regional waterway stewardship and report-card adjacent mission but is earlier-stage in its monitoring program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthy-rivers-to-reef-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership