WHITSUNDAY reef representatives took the fight to Canberra in a bid to secure greater Mackay- Whitsunday reef catchment funding.

Whitsunday tourism operator Al Grundy, Reef Catchments CEO Robert Coco, Julie Boyd (Reef Catchments), Mackay Canegrowers CEO Kerry Latter and Member for Dawson George Christensen met with federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg to discuss water quality funding priorities.

Mr Coco said funding for rural and urban land managers to improve their practices was essential to keep water quality healthy.

"We have had a five-fold drop in funding between 2016-19 based on current contracts so maintaining the same momentum as previous years was unlikely,” he said.

"We aren't here to be greedy, what we would like is to get it as close to possible as what we had in the past.

"The onus will be on us as a region to put forward a good series of projects that can be a win-win for us locally as well as for government.”

Regional reef funding is currently contracted at $1.6 million annually for 2016-19, less than the $7-8 million allocated to the region per year between 2007 and 2015.

Mr Grundy said the group put forward a strong case and was hopeful of achieving a positive outcome.

"We suggested to the Environment Minister that investment in the Mackay-Whitsunday catchment will give a better return on investment on the basis of the Whitsundays carrying 44% of all visitors into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park," Mr Grundy said.

"He gave us a fair heading and allowed us to put our position across.”

Mr Grundy also presented a paper to Mr Frydenberg regarding the need for mooring expansion, additional anchorages and more island walks in order to handle future growth in the Whitsundays.

Mr Coco praised Federal MP George Christensen for setting up the meeting.

"George Christensen has been a great help for us, he has been a passionate advocate working with us on the agriculture and tourism industry,” he said.