Protecting water at the source: The Mid Brisbane Rivercare Program
Clean, reliable drinking water doesn’t start at the tap – it starts in the landscape.
As South East Queensland’s population grows, demand for safe, reliable drinking water continues to increase. Protecting water quality at its source has never been more important.
That’s where the Mid Brisbane Rivercare Program comes in.
As part of the Mid Brisbane Source Protection Partnership Program – funded by Seqwater and delivered in partnership with Healthy Land & Water – Rivercare is a water quality improvement program that supports local landholders to adopt best-practice land management initiatives to help protect our catchments and the health of our region’s waterways.
By combining local knowledge with environmental expertise, the program delivers practical, on-ground solutions that protect waterways, strengthen landscapes, and support long-term water security.
Working with landholders to assess their land condition as part of the Rivercare program
A program built from the ground up
South East Queensland’s drinking water catchments span more than one million hectares, much of which is not publicly owned or managed. This makes collaboration essential.
Environmental Project Manager for the Mid Brisbane Partnerships program, Raphael Carvalho, says Rivercare is built on that collaboration. “Working alongside those who live and work in these landscapes to identify issues, share knowledge, and implement meaningful change, is what makes this program effective.”
FHealthy Land & Water Environmental Project Manager, Raphael Carvalho holding Mid Brisbane Rivercare gate signage that participants get as part of the program.
Since its launch, the program has expanded across priority areas of the catchment, with multiple property plans being developed and projects underway. This growth reflects both strong demand for the program and its early success in delivering practical, real-world outcomes.
Why the Rivercare program matters
In South East Queensland, treatment plants like Mt Crosby supply drinking water to Greater Brisbane and Ipswich. Improving the quality of the raw water entering these systems reduces the energy and effort required to treat it, helping ensure a safe and reliable supply for a growing population.
Rivercare focuses on protecting these source waters by addressing issues at their origin through practical source protection activities, including:
- Erosion and sediment runoff.
- Degraded riverbanks and riparian vegetation.
- Weed invasion.
- Unmanaged stock access to waterways.
By tackling these challenges upstream, the program helps keep soil on land and out of waterways – reducing sediment loads, improving ecosystem health, and supporting more efficient water treatment downstream. These projects also improve the resilience of gullies and riverbanks during high flow events, reducing the risk of long-term land degradation.
“Protecting water quality at the source is one of the most effective ways to support long-term water security for the region.”
Why people get involved
A key reason for the program’s success is its ability to deliver meaningful benefits at both a landscape and property level.
Rivercare is designed to be practical and supportive, helping landholders better understand and manage their land while contributing to broader water quality outcomes. Through tailored advice, technical support, and access to funding, the program makes it easier to take action on common land management challenges.
Healthy Land & Water Environmental Project Manager, Raphael Carvalho planning new projects with a representative from Ipswich City Council at a Rivercare Property Management Planning workshop.
Participation in Rivercare can provide support and expertise on:
- Land productivity, through better soil management and pasture performance.
- Property resilience, by improving pasture management.
- Animal health and safety, with improved access to clean water and safer grazing conditions.
- Long-term land condition, by restoring vegetation and stabilising waterways.
Importantly, these outcomes are achieved through solutions that work with the landscape, supporting both environmental and practical land management goals.
“Rivercare makes it easier for landholders to take practical action – delivering benefits for their land while contributing to healthier waterways across the catchment.”
Turning challenges into practical solutions
Raphael shares that there are so many benefits for landholders who take part in the program.
“Rivercare supports a range of on-ground actions that deliver multiple benefits across the catchment. Activities such as weed control not only improve waterway health but also support pasture productivity. Fencing and off-stream watering help protect fragile riparian areas while improving livestock management, while soil testing and property planning provide valuable insights that support more informed land management decisions.”
Erosion control works – from targeted civil structures in high-risk areas to large-scale revegetation – help stabilise riverbanks, protect valuable topsoil, and reduce sediment entering waterways.
By focusing on solutions that deliver both environmental and practical outcomes, the program ensures that improvements are sustainable and long-lasting.
Knowledge sharing and community connection
Beyond on-ground works, Rivercare also builds landholder knowledge and capability.
The program delivers workshops, technical advice, and opportunities to connect with neighbours working in the same landscape. This collaborative approach helps build confidence, share practical skills, and strengthen networks across the catchment.
It’s also what drives long-term change – moving from isolated efforts to coordinated, community-led action.
Tim Odgers, Senior Planner – Source Protection at Seqwater delivering a workshop to landholders’ part of the Rivercare program.
A long-term investment in water security
Approximately 40% of the drinking water supply for South East Queensland is either sourced from or travels through, the Mid Brisbane River before being treated at the Mount Crosby Water Treatment Plant. Seqwater’s investment in Rivercare is part of a wider commitment to catchment management as the first step in protecting drinking water supplies. With much of the region’s catchment actively used and privately managed, improving water quality relies on strong partnerships and sustained action over time.
Programs like Rivercare demonstrate how targeted investment in catchment health can deliver lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits – supporting not just cleaner water, but more resilient landscapes and communities.
Looking ahead
As the Rivercare Program continues to grow, so too does its impact. With more projects underway and new areas of the catchment coming onboard, the program is building momentum, showing what’s possible when people work together to protect the places we all depend on.
Want to see how Rivercare is making a difference on the ground? https://hlw.org.au/news/mid-brisbane-rivercare-win-win
Live in the Mid Brisbane and interested in finding out more? Contact us:
This restoration and water protection program is delivered in partnership with Seqwater.
