South East Queensland has important aquatic ecosystem assets. The waterways of the region provide a number of important ecosystem values, wildlife habitat, visual and recreational amenities. SEQ's waterways also play a role in providing commercial resources, for example for drinking water, commercial fishing, aquaculture, agriculture and industrial use.
Local councils, CEOs, etc. identified that these important assets need to be protected through an integrated regional ecosystem health assessment program to ensure these assets/values are not compromised. The also expressed a need for an evaluation tool of the various on-ground actions implemented. For example, local governments in recent years have invested $300 million on sewage treatment plant upgrades alone, and during 2002/03, $2.5 million has been invested by local governments on the restoration of riparian areas in SEQ. As a response to the above, the EHMP was devised to provide an audit mechanism for the management actions undertaken to protect SEQ's catchments and Moreton Bay.
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