Living Waterways - What's Your Nature?
Four-year water quality improvement project to protect the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland.
Reducing threats to the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland caused by urban-derived sediments and nutrients. What’s Your Nature Project is designed to reduce threats to the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland caused by urban-derived sediment and nutrients.
Healthy Land & Water has been working with Brisbane City Council to remove sediment and nutrients from urban runoff through Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) approaches.
Project activities also include engaging and educating the community on ways to improve the natural environment, waterways, and water quality in the Lower Brisbane catchment, which should have flow-on benefits to the downstream Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland.
The project focuses on:
- Improving water quality discharging into the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland by removing approximately 2 tonnes of sediment and 0.075 tonnes of nutrients from Brisbane urban areas.
- Implementation of WSUD approaches at 6 sites in the Lower Brisbane catchment.
- Collaborating with the local community through co-design and engagement events.
What we are doing
This project will reduce threats to the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland through Water Sensitive Urban Design and community engagement.
This project, running for four years from 2019, involves:
- Reducing threats to the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland.
- Improving water quality discharging from Brisbane urban areas by reducing sediment and nutrient loads.
- Improving collaboration between community groups and local government for better waterway management outcomes.
- Increasing community water literacy and awareness of waterway management and Water Sensitive Urban Design.
Measuring success
As a result of the program, the following will be achieved:
- Removal of 2 tonnes of sediment and 0.075 tonnes of nutrients from urban runoff.
- Implementation of WSUD approaches at 6 sites in the Lower Brisbane catchment.
- Supporting broader waterway outcomes while building resilience to future extreme events.
- Local community engagement events to foster environmental stewardship over the long term.
Why this project is important
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Sediment and nutrients from Brisbane's urban areas flow into Moreton Bay, where they cause water quality issues and impact aquatic habitats and fauna. Sediment smothers habitats such as seagrass meadows and coral reefs, which provide important feeding grounds and nurseries for much marine fauna. An excess of nutrients increases algal blooms, which can be harmful to humans and aquatic life and impact tourism and recreation opportunities. The project area includes the Lower Brisbane catchment, which flows directly into the Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland, which is internationally recognised for its biodiversity and ecological significance. |
Project snapshot
| Project name: | Living Waterways - What's your nature? |
| Project manager: | Georgia Glidden, Healthy Land & Water |
| Catchment: | Lower Brisbane |
| Timing: | June 2019 - June 2023 |
| Budget: | |
| Partnerships: |
This project is funded by the Australian Government and supported by the Brisbane City Council. Other key project collaborators include the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, The Hut Environmental & Community Association, and the Oxley Creek Catchment Association. |
| Related Articles: |
What's next
There is huge potential to build on the successful work.
Project collaborators
This project is funded by the Australian Government and supported by the Brisbane City Council.
Other key project collaborators include the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, The Hut Environmental & Community Association, and the Oxley Creek Catchment Association.
(Australian Government Environmental Restoration Fund (ERF))