Blue connections: Cities and the Great Barrier Reef
Introduction

Urban stormwater runoff is a significant source of pollution to downstream areas whenever it rains. This problem is significant in North Queensland where runoff from urban areas go directly into the Great Barrier Reef without any treatment. The Cairns Regional Council and JCU are partnering on a project using a wide range of sensors and smart technology in a bid to better monitor a city’s impact on the GBR during wet weather events.
Opportunities for students for this project include:
- Stormwater sampling from stormwater drains during and after rainfall events in the Cairns area
- Analysis of environmental data collected by Cairns Regional Council (to work with Council technicians and engineers)