Moreton Bay's new seagrass meadows

Unitywater has started planting seagrass across seven sites in Moreton Bay’s Marine Park to test reducing nutrient levels in local waterways.

The aim is to find ways of restoring the threatened plant habitat and provide food, shelter and nursery for green turtles, fish and other fauna, while measuring the plants’ ability to absorb and process nutrients.

Seagrass meadows will be installed at Beachmere, Bells Creek, Toorbul, Scarborough, Caboolture River, Coochin Creek and southern Bribie Island. 

All planting is due to be completed in the first half of 2025.

Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions, Mike Basterfield, said the project was expected to enhance waterways across the planting locations.

This will also contribute to the organisation’s sustainability goal of net zero nutrients to waterways by 2040.

“As we have infrastructure in, underneath and near marine environments, we have a responsibility to maintain natural habitats and a commitment to enhancing the waterways in our region,” Mr Basterfield said.

“The trial will measure seagrass’ ability to absorb and process nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in varying marine sites across Moreton Bay, and one in Bells Creek on the Sunshine Coast.”

“The trial follows the success of other nature-based initiatives we’ve implemented, including our Caboolture River Nutrient Offset Project, which has diverted almost 1900 kilograms of nutrients from waterways to date.”

It was born from an idea presented by a Unitywater Project Engineer in 2023 as part of an annual ‘Innovation Challenge’.

The project has been designed and undertaken by the water utility’s ‘Graduate Development Program’ cohort, who deliver a ‘Team Innovation Project’ in their two-year program.

It is supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast, where the research expertise of Dr Christopher Henderson will provide a foundation for future studies at the University.

“Seagrasses in Moreton Bay are under threat from a range of disturbances, so identifying approaches that can be effective in restoring the habitat in the region is important for fish habitat and nutrient reduction,” Dr Henderson said.