The $8M Caboolture River Rehabilitation Project has approached a significant milestone. UnityWater has delivered with partners Healthy Land & Water, Trask Land Corporation and North Harbour Holdings,
Completing the first stage represents one of Australia’s most significant nutrient-offsetting river rehabilitation projects in an estuarine environment.
The project will see more than 30,000 seedlings planted, 1.6 tonnes of nutrients and 34 tonnes of carbon offset per year from Unitywater’s Burpengary East wastewater treatment plant.
Unitywater CEO Anna Jackson said the utility is proud to announce a major milestone in the journey towards a sustainable future. Launching their new Environmental Sustainability Plan accelerates previous targets from 2050 to 2030 and 2040.
“We are the first water utility in Australia to commit to zero nutrients in waterways by 2040. The Caboolture River Project supports these goals,” she said. “We have pledged environmental leadership by creating thriving communities, greener spaces, cleaner waterways, and a circular economy. By embracing innovation and fostering collaboration, we are ensuring that we contribute to our region’s liveability by improving our local waterways.”
Dr Andrew O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer of Healthy Land & Water, emphasises the vital importance of waterway preservation and proactive initiatives for the well-being of our region’s ecosystems and communities.
“This project tackles erosion and helps mitigate excess nutrient impacts. At the same time, it bolsters resilience against disaster-scale flooding,” says Dr O’Neill.
“As a caretaker of these precious resources, we take pride in collaborating with proactive partners like Unitywater to take much-needed strides in the regeneration of riparian vegetation along the Caboolture River.
“This work promises to help improve water quality biodiversity, support aquatic ecosystem health and rejuvenate terrestrial habitat for wildlife. Better still, it does all this with a commitment to genuinely preserving culture at the same time.
“We are proud to be partnering with Unitywater to actively work towards restoring and protecting our natural resources along the Caboolture River,” he said.
Bryan Finney, Project Director for the proposed North Harbour Marina development, said land owners North Harbour Holdings and Trask Land Corporation are supportive participants of the initiative.
“Unitywater’s river rehabilitation initiative complements the 12 kilometres of riparian revegetation we are progressing as part of the Marina project. We are pleased to be involved as these combined efforts will greatly benefit the Caboolture River and Moreton Bay.”
Fast facts
- 13,000 cubic metres of excavation
- 444 logs used to protect the river banks
- 21,000 tube stock planted
- 10,000 mangrove propagules collected and planted
- 10,000 plants translocated
- 1000 Biodegradable Ecosystem Engineered Elements (BESE)
- Works duration: approximately 2 years.
For more information, visit www.unitywater.com/caboolture-river and www.unitywater.com/about-us/our-business/sustainability
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