The price of meeting water quality targets to save the Great Barrier Reef from runoff pollution could cost as much as $16 Billion.  The figure, which the ABC obtained from secret modelling by the Queensland government, is much higher than previous estimates.

"It is a bit more than we thought, it does worry us," said the World Wildlife Fund's reef spokesman Nick Heath to the ABC.  "But it's not out of the ballpark.  I think it is a credible figure.  It's absolutely billions not millions that will save the reef, yet we've only seen millions from the major parties to date," he added.

The figure of $16 Billion is a significant departure from the plans advances by the the two major political parties.  The Turnbull Government set aside $171 million in extra funding for the helping one of the world's natural wonders in the May budget.  Federal Labor's election year promise is an additional $352 million on top of the Coalition's commitment to help one of the world's natural wonders if it is elected.

The Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce is concerned about the slow pace of mobilizing to save the reef; last week's reports notes that "while some progress is being made, it is not nearly rapid or widespread enough to achieve the water quality targets".