New plans for popular park

Above: The waterway which runs through Danzy Buchanan Park in Mango Hill Village.

Plans are being drawn up to tackle growing problems with drainage and the high-water table at a Mango Hill park.

Moreton Bay City Council’s stormwater team will spend six to eight months on design work for Danzy Buchanan Park and roll it out in about 12 months.

The preferred drainage approach will see the “enhancement” of a waterway through the park, with minor modifications to the channel and adding of more native wetland plants.

Mango Hill Progress Association (MHPA) has raised concerns over the rising water level, which is unlikely to fall, in North Lakes Reserve and Danzy Buchanan Park, with Moreton Bay City Council since 2016.

Residents' fears worsened after severe flooding in February 2022. MHPA made a formal presentation to Council in June last year and a public consultation session was held at Mango Hill Village Community Centre in October.

There four options were put forward based around the difficulties of tackling such issues in an environmental reserve. Council’s preferred option was revealed at last week’s MHPA meeting.

“Based on the feedback received, the preferred approach to drainage management was Option 1 which involves improving the riparian and water quality function of the ponded areas through a minor modification of the channel and undertaking additional planting along the sides of the drainage corridor,” a Council spokesperson said.

“This option will improve water quality, enhance the aesthetics of the corridor, and create additional waterway habitat, while offering a more practical means to undertake maintenance of the drain.

“Importantly, with this option, the existing playground, sports areas and grassed area in the park will be retained and there will be no change to the transport network.”

In a statement, MHPA said: “While the progress association accepts Council’s recommendation, it does consider other options to “drain the swamp” should be explored, given some historical knowledge of the local area in dryer times.

“The progress association will continue to liaise with Council Officers and welcomes the opportunity for continued feedback from the community.”

Other proposals included building a channel in the environmental reserve from Chermside Rd to Saltwater Creek, in addition to Option 1.

Another option was to create two small wetland areas either side of Chermside Rd, but lose part of the park - and a fourth proposal for an even larger wetland, but lose part of Chermside Rd.

The Council spokesperson said drainage effectiveness, accessibility, cost, viability, and environmental impacts were considered for each option.

Community feedback which helped guide the decision included calls to “preserve park functionality and recreation amenity” and “focus on public safety”.

Also preserving the environment and maintaining the traffic flow and public transport (bus route) in the area.