The Atherton Tablelands contains the headwaters for a number of significant Wet Tropics river systems, including the Herbert, Johnstone and Barron rivers.

The tablelands has a growing urban and rural population and boasts extensive agriculture including cane, bananas, numerous other fruit and vegetable cropping businesses and grazing properties. The region also attracts a growing number of tourists each year.

In this Episode, Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) mayor Joe Paronella explains the work that council does to balance the social and economic interests of the region with the environmental outcomes expected of a "Reef Guardians" council.