Redlands Coast waterways show healthy improvement

Redlands Coast waterways have improved over the past year according to the latest Healthy Land and Water (HL&W) report released on Tuesday, 12 December.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the report by HL&W – an independent body which manages the monitoring and reporting for south-east Queensland – showed Redlands Coast catchments had improved from poor to fair in terms of environmental health conditions.

“While we know there is still opportunity to improve conditions, it is positive to note pollution loads from the land were substantially less than reported during the 2022 year that was dominated by significant rainfall events, dropping from very high to low,” Cr Williams said.

“With lower flow in our creeks, sediment load, such as mud, decreased from 1133kg/ha in 2022 to 158kg/ha in 2023.

“Council has a number of programs, such as our Environmental Partnership Program and the active Erosion and Sediment Control Compliance Program on development sites, that focus on reducing pollution loads to our waterways.”

Cr Williams said the report reconfirmed the Redlands Coast community’s enjoyment of and respect for local waterways.

A survey of the Redlands Coast community, presented in the report, indicated: “Very high numbers of residents (70 per cent) are satisfied with their local waterways. Residents reported extremely high levels of personal connection (83 per cent) with nature, with high levels of those surveyed feeling motivated to use and protect their local waterways (45 per cent).”

Council has a long history of developing and implementing action plans designed to maintain the health of local waterways and Moreton Bay.

Cr Williams said it was an ongoing challenge but one that Council took seriously as a guardian of Redlands Coast’s water courses.

In June 2021, Council adopted the Redlands Coast Bay and Creeks Plan 2021-2031 and supplementary Action Plan 2021-2026 that aligned with Council’s Corporate Plan 2021-2026, and the Coastal Adaption Strategy and the Conservation Land Management Strategy 2010.

It also enacted Council’s implementation of the Lower Brisbane-Redlands Coastal Catchment Action Plan that Council endorsed in 2018.

Most recently, Council contributed to the development of the Resilient Rivers Initiative: SEQ Waterways and Wetlands Investment Strategy that was announced on 1 December this year.

This strategy supports investment in on-ground rehabilitation projects such as creek bank habitat restoration and reconnecting waterways for fauna passage to boost the future health and resilience of south-east Queensland catchments.

It is part of the delivery of $40 million of investment across the region through the SEQ City Deal, a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ).

Cr Williams said the Resilient Rivers Initiative: SEQ Waterways and Wetlands Investment Strategy had been included as an initiative in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane 2032 Legacy Strategy – Elevate 2042.

“This strategy will help deliver significant benefits for south-east waterways and wetlands – including here on Redlands Coast – before and after the Brisbane 2032 Games,” she said.