Read about a great project which was kick-started to address the aftermath of the unprecedented floods of 2022. The first step was evaluating the fall out, quickly followed by developing and implementing a tailored suite of on-ground solutions to restore and fortify the region's ecosystems.

		Flood resilience Rehabilitating and restoring flood affected environments increases resilience to better withstand disaster-scale weather events such as floods.
		Improved condition of riparian vegetation Restoring riverbanks improves native riparian vegetation and preserves healthy ecosystems and other environmental values.
		Cleaner water These actions also reduce the amount of erosion and sediments flowing downstream, improving water quality.

Building resilience of our natural ecosystems

The devastating floods of 2022 left a strong mark on the landscapes of South East Queensland (SEQ), reshaping waterways, wetlands, and riparian zones.

The environmental impacts deriving from the floods have repercussions on wildlife, habitat, and water quality.

In the aftermath of this "one-in-100 event," the region faced a monumental task: assessing the environmental impacts and implementing strategies to ensure the resilience of our natural ecosystems.

Riverine Flood Recovery and Resilience Project to the task!

Enter the Riverine Flood Recovery and Resilience Project, a comprehensive initiative focused on evaluating the aftermath of the floods and delivering targeted riverine environmental recovery efforts based on the findings and the needs of SEQ.

 Our assessment was through covering everything from regional assessments to surveying invasive species fish (as pictured the Australasian Fish Passage Services crew surveying at Pine Mountain).

Two stages: reconnaissance and action

Divided into two stages, this project has commenced its second stage, focusing on implementing on-ground works to increase environmental resilience in the region.

RECONNAISSANCE	PROGRAM OF WORKS		DETAILED DESIGN & APPROVALS	WORKS DELIVERY & MONITORING
Fields assessment and consultation with relevant stakeholders in flood-affected areas. Research, mapping, data collection, and reporting on flood-related environmental impacts. Identify opportunity for long-term co-investment at a reach scale and multiple co-benefits such as improving koala and lungfish habitat.	Creation of a program of works for recovery activities to address streambank erosion and build riparian resilience. Landholder and stakeholder engagement.		Detailed engineering designs and ecological surveys. Site assessments including flood modelling, geotechnical and bathymetry surveys. Approvals for works including development applications, landholder access, surveys and modelling required.	Deploying on-ground works and actions aimed at addressing impacts and creating future resilience for the areas. Monitoring and evaluation.

Stage 1: Complete - Reconnaissance

Stage one thoroughly assessed the environmental impacts of the floods across the region. The completion of stage one laid the groundwork by evaluating the damage inflicted on specific sites across South East Queensland during the devastating floods of late 2021 and 2022. Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders and research, we identified areas with high potential for long-term environmental resilience, setting the stage for the implementation of targeted recovery activities. While not all damaged areas were eligible for funding consideration, we pinpointed those with the highest potential within a reach scale of 5 kilometres or more.

The findings have been outlined in a comprehensive report which laid out a recovery program for addressing streambank erosion across nine reaches. This laid the foundation for stage two. which focuses on the implementation of on-ground works to help in recovery and building resilience to better withstand disaster-scale weather events such as the 2021 and 2022 floods.

Stage 2: Underway - Sleeves are rolled up and on-ground works are in full swing!

On-ground works are well underway across 5 sites aimed squarely at addressing the impacts and creating future resilience for the affected areas.

Geotechnical survey at the Borallon site.

Key focuses include:

• 5 sites undergoing recovery actions.
• Detailed engineering design.
• Site assessments including geotechnical and bathymetry and ecological surveys.
• Detailed modelling.
• Approval application and modelling.
• On ground works including targeted riverbank battering, and pile field construction and revegetation.
• Rehabilitation and restoration flood-affected environments to maintain healthy ecosystems and other environmental values.
• Improve resilience for future disaster events.

From the Logan River to Woogaroo Creek, our teams are on the ground, implementing targeted strategies aimed at rehabilitating and restoring flood-affected environments, ensuring the preservation of healthy ecosystems and other environmental values.

The Woogaroo Creek works are delivered in partnership with the Ipswich City Council and we are partnering with the Resilient Rivers Initiative for the on-ground delivery in the Logan River area.

Nature-based solutions central to our efforts

Through targeted native revegetation, bank reprofiling, and installation of grade control structures, we are not only aiming to address the immediate impacts of the floods and stabilise stream banks, but at the heart of our work is laying the foundation for long-term resilience of the region against future disasters.

Read the full project snapshot here.

Acknowledgments

This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Partners include the Resilient Rivers Initiative, ICC, Port of Brisbane and Lockyer Valley Regional Council.