Landmark for $8m river project

The $8 million Caboolture River Rehabilitation Project has reached a major milestone.

Unitywater CEO Anna Jackson says the new Environmental Sustainability Plan accelerating previous targets from 2050 to 2030 and 2040, has been launched.

“We are the first water utility in Australia to commit to zero nutrients in waterways by 2040 and the Caboolture River Project supports these goals,” she says.

“We have made a pledge to environmental leadership by creating thriving communities, greener spaces, cleaner waterways, and a circular economy.

“By embracing innovation and fostering collaboration, we are ensuring we are contributing to the liveability of our region by improving our local waterways.”

The two-year project will see more than 30,000 seedlings planted, 444 logs used to protect river banks and 1.6 tonnes of nutrients and 34 tonnes of carbon offset a year from Unitywater’s Burpengary East wastewater treatment plant. 

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Unitywater's project partners are Healthy Land & Water, Trask Land Corporation and North Harbour Holdings.

Healthy Land & Water Chief Operating Officer Dr Andrew O'Neill says waterway preservation and proactive initiatives are essential ecosystems and communities.

“This project tackles erosion, helps mitigate excess nutrient impacts, and at the same time, bolsters resilience against disaster-scale flooding," Dr O'Neill says.

“This work promises to help improve water quality, biodiversity, support aquatic ecosystem health and rejuvenate terrestrial habitat for wildlife.”

Bryan Finney, Project Director for the proposed North Harbour Marina development, said:

“Unitywater’s river rehabilitation initiative complements the 12kms of riparian revegetation we are progressing as part of the Marina project.”