The principal objective of the Healthy Country Project is to demonstrate that measurable reductions in sediment and nutrients reaching waterways can be achieved through communities and governments working together to apply the best scientific advice available.
Through consultation with local communities and landholders the SEQ Catchments Waterways Restoration Project will invest some $5 million in on-ground works over the next three years, ultimately providing a ‘proof of concept’ that landscape scale investments will deliver larger benefits and improve the health of Moreton Bay.
The Project is part of the Healthy Country Project, which consists of four sub-projects led respectively by:
- Healthy Waterways Partnership – science and planning
- Queensland Government – sustainable land management
- South East Queensland Traditional Owners Alliance – traditional owner engagement
- SEQ Catchments with waterway restoration.
Through this collaboration the Project will offer communities and landholders multi-faceted solutions to land management issues. Communities will work with project coordinators to guide the planning and development of the Waterways Restoration Project to ensure it addresses the issues specific to the local area.
Engagement of people and communities is critical to the Project as these communities need confidence that the solutions proposed are practical and worthwhile, and farmers need to be sure solutions do not only benefit the environment and community but will assist their productivity.
Landholders within the focal area are encouraged to contact their SEQ Catchments Waterways Restoration project coordinator to arrange a site visit, or discuss how they can benefit from the wide range of opportunities that will be available.
The community/catchment engagement approach has proved effective in the past, and Project managers are confident the majority of land managers in the focal areas will participate in the Project through coordinated extension services and incentives for change.
The project aims to measurably reduce sediment and natural loads entering Moreton Bay and is underway in three defined areas within the Logan and Bremer Rivers and Lockyer Creek.
The three areas were selected with a combination of local and community knowledge, historical information and experience from the local steering committee, along with advice from scientists.
Elements of the Project that will indicate success include the demonstration of a collaborative approach by the science community, Traditional Owners, SEQ Catchments, State and Local Governments and the local community to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate landscape and waterways restoration activities and improved land use management practices.
Working with partners and the community we are seeking to reduce the amount of sediments in our waterways by 50% by 2031.
