Seqwater, the University of Queensland and West Moreton Landcare have teamed up to improve a section of riverbank along the Lockyer Creek, following the devastating floods of 2011 and 2013.
The section of riverbank was first damaged during the 2011 floods and then further extensive damage occurred in early 2013 during the extreme weather event caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.
Seqwater Acting Chief Executive Officer, Peter Dennis said improving catchment health is an important part of ensuring a high quality water supply.
“Seqwater is one of the only major bulk water suppliers in Australia to manage open catchments, allowing the community to enjoy lakes and catchment land while ensuring high quality bulk water for the region,” Mr Dennis said.
“Our catchments are also the most highly developed in the country. As a result, the treatment of water needs to begin within those catchments.”
“When large amounts of soil and silt are washed into our dams and waterways it makes it harder to treat the water, increasing the cost and the time it takes. The excess soil and silt over time has an impact on the storage capacity of the dams and the quality of water in our waterways.
“Planting trees will help stabilise the banks of Lockyer Creek and stop eroded soil from entering the creek and making its way down to the Lowood and Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plants.”
Around 90 students from the University of Queensland, along with volunteers from West Moreton Landcare and Seqwater representatives took part in the planting day along a section of Lockyer Creek near Wilsons Weir.
By the end of the day, approximately 2400 trees indigenous to the area had been planted, helping to stabilise the bank and reduce erosion, reinstate the natural habitat and improve water quality.
“Working with community and industry groups and organisations is an important part of Seqwater’s catchment care approach,” Mr Dennis said.
“We thank our community and industry partners for working with us to improve catchment health. This important work benefits us all.”
West Moreton Landcare President, Bob Hampson said the section of the Lockyer Creek where the planting took place was very badly damaged after the 2013 extreme weather event.
“The section of the creek was already damaged during the 2011 floods and the floods caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013 compounded this damage to a point where we would have been hard pressed to revegetate this area by ourselves,” Mr Hampson said.
“It wouldn’t have been possible to do this project without the support and on-ground assistance from Seqwater.”
