Great Barrier Reef project begins

Plans need to be started now to save the Great Barrier Reef.

AAP

THE Federal Government has begun rolling out funding to improve the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef, with a $50 million "downpayment" committed on Thursday.

The funding, part of the government's $200 million Reef Rescue project, will be provided to a group of natural resource management bodies, agriculture industry groups and the conservation group WWF (World Wide Fund).

The project was one of the Rudd government's key election commitments in an effort to improve the health of the reef by promoting better farming practices on land.

More than 900 farmers as well as tourism, fishing and aquaculture, Indigenous communities, conservation groups and researchers support the scheme, the government says.

It's expected 2,000 more farmers will sign up to the program as a result of the $50 million committed.

Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said it was a "once-in-a-lifetime chance to resuscitate the reef".

"Farmers hold one of the keys to the reef's long-term health - they understand the land and how to manage it in a smart, productive way," he said in a statement.

Every individual farmer's knowledge would help save the reef for future generations, he said.

The government has set an objective to reduce nutrient and chemical discharge into the reef by 25 per cent from next year.

The Reef Rescue funding forms a part of a $400 million Caring for our Country announcement which the government is expected to make around lunch time on Thursday.

The funding will go towards supporting 50 regional organisations and will include $58 million to support projects to eradicate weeds including lantana and pests such as rabbits.