The final stretch of a Brisbane waterway is set to be rehabilitated under a breakthrough new agreement between the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council.
Stable Swamp Creek is a critical catchment on Brisbane’s south side, however, the former Labor State Government refused to fund rehabilitation works despite representing the area across three levels of government, said Council Chair for Environment, Parks and Sustainability Tracy Davis.
The majority of the land along the Fauna Parade Park stretch of creek is owned by the State Government, with some of the adjacent land owned by Council.
“Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and I recognised the strong community support to clean up this stretch of Stable Swamp creek,” said Cr Davis.
“We were prepared to shoulder the clean-up along the parkland, however, State Government collaboration was critical given they own parcels of land along the creek.
“Improving this waterway though weeding, bank stabilisation and desilting will preserve this important part of Brisbane’s ecosystem for years to come,” she said.
Works on the multi-stage rehabilitation of the 27-kilometre creek have been underway for years, with the Council improving the health of the creek through repairing erosion and replanting native plants along the creek bank.
Council says it has had close to $600,000 on the table for the past two years to progress the final stretch of works along the council-owned parkland in Rocklea, but says requests to boost resilience along the adjacent State-owned land were ignored by the former Labor Government.
Under this new agreement, the Queensland Government will contribute an additional $400,000 in funding to progress the final stage of rehabilitation.
“For years, the previous Labor Government passed the buck on Stable Swamp Creek’s rehabilitation and failed the people of Rocklea,” said Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, Ann Leahy.
“That’s why the Crisafulli Government has been quick to act with the Schrinner Council to begin the final stages of this restoration after years of campaigning.
“Quickly allocating resources to this important environmental work is a part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to delivering for local communities.”
Works will include rubbish removal, weeding, planting, bank stabilisation and desilting to improve the overall condition of the creek.
“I look forward to continued collaboration with the Crisafulli Government to progress projects like this that are important to our community,” said Cr Davis.
This final stage of the creek rejuvenation works will commence next month.
