Local waterways are struggling to keep up with population growth signalling calls for coordinated and increased investment into South East Queensland catchments.
While investments have allowed some river estuaries and Moreton Bay to recover and in some cases improve, a number of South East Queensland waterways have declined, or received poor or very poor health ratings in the 2021 Healthy Land and Water’s Annual Report Card released today.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said greater investment was needed to protect the region’s waterways now and into the future.
“Resilient Rivers, led by the Council of Mayors (SEQ), is already providing a coordinated cross-council approach to many of the waterway catchments under stress, but more funding and support is needed,” he said.
“South East Queensland’s population is booming. We’re one of Australia’s fastest growing regions with our population expected to increase by more than 1.5 million people by 2042. This is putting increasing strain on our local waterways.
“A bold and well-funded program to clean-up our creeks, the Brisbane River and ultimately Moreton Bay over the coming years would be hugely beneficial for our whole region.
“Cleaning-up our creeks, rivers and bay can also be an important goal on our journey towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“A SEQ City Deal can deliver this outcome for our region, but it won’t happen overnight. We need to get moving and sign the SEQ City Deal so we can leave a lasting legacy for our environment, our residents and our local tourism industry for decades to come.”
Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said Resilient Rivers had invested over $5.7m in catchment improvement projects in South East Queensland since 2016.
“These projects include invasive weed management on riverbanks, to native tree planting, erosion control and bank stabilisation works,” she said.
“Through Resilient Rivers we’re also working with private land owners and farming communities to manage the impact they have.
“Ultimately what happens upstream has a big impact on downstream communities and the overall health of the bay. That’s why it’s important we work together to manage and improve the health of the waterways which we all share.”
To view the 2021 Healthy Land and Water Annual Report Card visit Report Card – Healthy Land and Water (hlw.org.au).