Resilient Rivers South East Queensland (RRSEQ), Seqwater and Lockyer Valley Regional Council have joined forces to help improve the health and resilience of the region’s waterways.
The new Lockyer Valley Source Protection Partnership aims to deliver $750,000 over five years to drive collaborative efforts to support water quality for drinking water supply and will help to deliver long-term improvements to the health of the Lockyer Valley’s waterways.
Funded through Seqwater, the Partnership is focused on works to enhance local waterways with investments in the Lockyer Creek catchment, a vital part of the region’s water supply.
Work through the Partnership will start around Gatton with erosion control, removal of invasive weeds and native vegetation plantings to improve riverbank health and boost habitat for wildlife.
The program will help manage water quality arriving at the region’s biggest water treatment plants at Mount Crosby, which can produce up to 750ML of drinking water daily (the equivalent of around 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools) for Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich residents.
RRSEQ is an initiative of Council of Mayors SEQ started in response to the 2011 floods. It has successfully delivered coordinated catchment management for more than ten years as a partnership with south-east Queensland councils, the Federal Government, Queensland Government, and key regional waterway and catchment organisations.
RRSEQ is focussed on enhancing the resilience of waterways by increasing native vegetation and improving erosion control and bank stabilisation. These activities help to slow water velocity and reduce erosion, minimising sediment runoff downstream that can impact the south east’s drinking water quality and cause destruction of the Moreton Bay marine habitat.
Seqwater Chief Executive Officer, Emma Thomas, said that the bulk water supplier recognises the importance of source protection as the first step of its robust water treatment process, and that it invests more than $10 million into initiatives each year to support the health of south-east Queensland’s waterways.
“Investing in the health of south-east Queensland’s waterways helps ensure Seqwater’s water treatment plants can more efficiently and cost-effectively turn source water into clean, safe drinking water for more than 3.8 million people,” she said.
“By working together and investing in the future of our catchments, we can build healthier, more resilient waterways, ensure a reliable supply of drinking water and protect the local environment for generations to come.”
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Treasurer and Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Tanya Milligan, said the partnership will help to enhance the resilience of local waterways during severe weather events impacting the region.
“It is vital we work together to safeguard the future of our waterways from increasing pressures, including severe weather events such as Tropical Cyclone Alfred. This partnership will drive meaningful work to stabilise vulnerable landscapes, prevent muddy soil and run off from entering our local rivers and boost the long-term resilience of SEQ’s waterways,” Ms Milligan said.
