Two Healthy Waterways’ accolades in recognition of efforts to help protect and improve South East Queensland’s waterways have been awarded.
Queensland Urban Utilities won the Healthy Waterways Water Services Award for its innovative project to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the Logan River in Beaudesert. The project prevented an $8 million upgrade of the Beaudesert Sewage Treatment Plant
Queensland Urban Utilities CEO, Louise Dudley, said the Beaudesert Nutrient Offsets Project has been thriving since 8,000 native trees and shrubs were planted in March, last year.
“We re-vegetated 500m of severely eroded riverbank which has prevented five tonnes of nitrogen and 11,000 tonnes of sediment from entering the Logan River in the past 15 months,” she said.
“By stabilising sediment loads in the river, the green infrastructure project has avoided the need for an $8 million upgrade of the Beaudesert Sewage Treatment Plant.
Ms Dudley said the project, which is a first of its kind in Australia, was exceeding expectations.
“There is less erosion than we predicted and on top of that the restored river bank is starting to capture sediment caused by wet weather events which is an additional environmental benefit,” she said.
Queensland Urban Utilities also received a high commendation for the Government Stewardship Award in recognition of its unique partnership with the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C).
Queensland Urban Utilities CEO, Louise Dudley, said the partnership was the first of its type in Australia between a water utility and an environmental group.
“Through our partnership with local land care group B4C, we have rehabilitated more than 30 sites, covering an impressive area of 236,000 square metres,” she said.
“Over the past 12 months we have planted more than 5500 trees and shrubs to help stabilise creek banks and reduce sediment run off.
Sites at Bulimba Creek, Norman Creek, Bundamba Creek, Woogaroo Creek and Cabbage Tree Creek have also been rejuvenated through weed control, mulching, turfing and native tree planting.
“We’re extremely honoured that our efforts to improve the long-term health of our local waterways has been recognised,” she said.
Ms Dudley also congratulated the Tangalooma EcoMarines Foundation, of which Queensland Urban Utilities is a sponsor, for taking out the Sustainable Education Award.
