In the remote landscapes of Cape York, unsealed roads are a vital part of daily life — but they also present a persistent environmental challenge. Fine sediments erode from unsealed road corridors, enter local streams, and are then transported into the marine environment. In response to many years of community concern about erosion and weed spread, South Cape York Catchments (SCYC), in partnership with Cook Shire Council (CSC),  led a pilot project to quantify and reduce the erosion and fine sediment runoff from council-maintained unsealed roads in the Annan catchment which are transported to the Great Barrier Reef. 

Gully erosion is considered one of the key drivers of reduced water quality in Eastern Cape York. SCYC has undertaken gully rehabilitation works across multiple programs, most recently in the Annan/Endeavour Basin with funding from the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.