UN watchdog urges rigorous reef rescue

The UN's conservation agency has noted "with concern" the state of the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef will not be listed as endangered but will remain under watch because of "major threats" to its health, a draft recommendation to the UN's World Heritage Committee says.

The Australian federal and Queensland governments have welcomed the draft report Unesco released on Friday. Environment Minister Greg Hunt called it "an overwhelming endorsement" of their approaches to reef protection.

But environmental groups say the report puts both governments on notice to deliver on their promises to protect the reef.

The UN's conservation agency noted "with concern" the state of the reef, which has had World Heritage Site status since 1981.

Unesco warned the reef's "overall outlook is poor" and urged Australia "to rigorously implement all its commitments" and submit a progress report by December next year.

The report called for a restoration of water quality, "restricting major port development" and "a permanent ban on dumping of dredged material".

Hunt said the report recognised the "unprecedented" work by the federal and Queensland governments to protect the reef, including a ban on dumping dredge material and port development restrictions. "All references to 'in danger' have been dropped and Australia and Queensland's efforts have been praised," he said in a joint statement with Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Environment Minister Steven Miles.

"This is an overwhelming endorsement, but we want to make sure we keep the pressure on ourselves. Inviting a little long-term international scrutiny, I think, is valuable."

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council said listing the reef as "in danger" would have been catastrophic for tourism as it would have discouraged tourists.

But Greenpeace said the decision by Unesco to demand a report on progress within 18 months showed the federal and Queensland governments were on notice.

"The Australian Government can't talk about protecting the reef and aggressively support the licensing of mega-mine and expansion of coal ports along the Great Barrier Reef coast," said Shani Tager, Greenpeace Australia Reef campaigner.

WWF-Australia's chief executive officer Dermot O'Gorman also pointed to the measures demanded of Australia in the draft decision.

"The Australian and Queensland governments must now deliver on their promises to better protect the reef," he said.

-AAP