Redlands Coast waterways have maintained environmental conditions according to the 2020 Healthy Land and Water Report Card.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said steady catchment conditions of C+ and a Waterway Benefit Rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5) showed the good work being done across the city continued to yield results.
“We know our community loves our local waterways and Council is committed to improving waterway health,” she said.
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“While we know there is still opportunity to improve conditions, it is positive to note pollution loads from the land remained very low.
“This has been aided by Council’s programs, such as our Environmental Partnership Program and the active Erosion and Sediment Control Compliance Program on development sites.
“Ongoing work in this space is increasing the resilience of our catchments to extreme weather events, with more than 1500 erosion and sediment control inspections undertaken over the last year.
“The Report Card also shows the health of the aquatic bug community remained stable, a useful stream health indicator.
“However improvement opportunities still exist for freshwater habitat, with a decline reported in the health of our fish community.
“We know our creeks experience low oxygen in discontinuous pools during dry weather, which can impact on these communities.
“Our need to contribute to a regional approach of waterway health was reinforced by the slight increases in nutrients in Southern Moreton Bay and the previous reports of mud from flows of the Logan and Albert Rivers.”
Cr Williams said the Report Card also showed the high value residents placed on their local waterways.
“The report shows 66 per cent of residents are satisfied with their local waterways, compared to only 62 per cent across all of South East Queensland,” she said.
“Residents also value local waterways for recreation, with 60 per cent of those surveyed using them at least monthly for activities such as walking or running, enjoying nature, cycling, picnics and swimming.
“This has highlighted the benefit of waterways to our community during the challenges of COVID-19.
“Here on the naturally wonderful Redlands Coast, our future is inextricably connected to Moreton Bay and the waters that feed it.
“This reinforces the importance of the ongoing works Council and the community are undertaking to protect and enhance our part of the bay and our creeks for a sustainable future.”
