Logan City Council is working to boost the health of the local Scrubby Creek to help scale up the presence of native fish species in the catchment with the inclusion of a new rock ramp fishway.
The fishway includes a series of descending rock ridges that slow water movement, prevent erosion and provide deep resting pools for fish travelling upstream.
It was constructed by the Council in a section of Scrubby Creek adjacent to the intersection of Queens and Loganlea Roads in the Slacks Creek Environmental Park.
“In the City of Logan, we share the goals of our nature-loving neighbours around the world – and that includes doing our part to protect our land and waterways,” said Mayor, Jon Raven.
“Native fish love to migrate and we’re helping them live their best life by going with the flow in Scrubby Creek while keeping pests at bay.
“Finned, feathered or furred, local wildlife is highly valued by our community and this project is another way we’re helping them thrive.”
A pedestrian crossing along the Slacks Creek Bikeway has also been replaced with a new footbridge as part of the project.
The Scrubby Creek catchment includes more than 60 kilometres of waterways that flow from Greenbank to Meadowbrook and eventually into Slacks Creek and then on to the Logan River.
Many native fish species migrate to the lower saltwater and brackish reaches of the
Logan River to spawn. Juvenile fish then swim back up the waterway to live in freshwater, the Council explained in a statement.
Studies conducted before and after the installation of the fishway have confirmed an increase in fish movement, including during periods of low water flow.
Seven native fish species were recorded in waters above and below the fishway including empire gudgeon, unspecked hardyheads, mullet and longfin eels; while two exotic pest species – gambusia and swordtail – which thrive in poorly connected or stagnant waterways were also detected.
The fishway is expected to eventually help decrease pest species populations.
Division 3 Councillor, Mindy Russell said as well as improving fish habitat, the new
rock ramp was a major point of interest for pedestrians and cyclists in Slacks Creek.
“This natural-looking feature blends beautifully into the Scrubby Creek environment and adds to the environmental value and appeal of this important waterway,” she said.
Riverbank restoration works, including the planting of native grasses and trees, were also carried out.
The Queens Road Fish Passage was funded through Logan City Council’s Environmental Levy. It was supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian
Government’s National Landcare Program and OzFish Unlimited.
It also received a Recreational Fishing Grant from the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
