Past achievements
The current South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012 builds on the scientific knowledge and experience gained from the previous Strategy, the South East Queensland Regional Water Quality Management Strategy (SEQRWQMS 2001).
SEQRWQMS provided the first comprehensive and integrated program for the protection and restoration of South East Queensland’s waterways. It was developed in stages in the mid 1990s and was officially launched in 2001.
Achievements of the previous Strategy by 2006:
Sewage Management and Industrial Discharges
- Significant reductions have been achieved in pollutant discharges by local government and industry Partners through wastewater treatment plant upgrades, wastewater recycling and water conservation initiatives.
- Under SEQRWQMS 2001 local governments agreed to upgrade 25 of the region’s 54 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). With Queensland Government assistance, local governments in the region have invested $500 million in this process. These upgrades have reduced the nitrogen loads to the waterways by approximately 40 percent with a further 20-30 percent reduction expected once the upgrades have been completed. Significant phosphorus removal has also been achieved at some WWTPs.
Stormwater and Catchment Management
- Local governments have developed an increasingly strong commitment to waterway and catchment management. In 2004-2005 alone, eight local governments invested more than $1 million in developing 18 waterway and catchment plans, often in conjunction with community groups.
- Improved attention to the management of stormwater was also a focus of SEQRWQMS 2001. During 2004-2005, 14 local governments developed planning provisions for stormwater management. Twelve local governments initiated ongoing regulatory control of stormwater management, targeting sediment and erosion control.
- Urban stormwater or catchment management plans (sometimes both) are now in place for all major catchments in SEQ, guiding the significant investment in “on-ground” riparian and stormwater management activities by Partners.
Extractive Industries
Water Quality Monitoring
- The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) was improved and expanded to include freshwater systems and the tidal waterways not covered by the original monitoring program. This updated program provides more comprehensive data which provides a better basis for deriving the annual Report Card ratings.
- Under SEQRWQMS 2001, the Report Cards and Annual Technical Reports have been produced annually for freshwater, estuarine and marine areas.
- An Event Monitoring Program was developed and put in place.
- A Human Health Risk Assessment was carried out.
Riparian Protection and Restoration
- There was a significant increase in attention to the quality of riparian zones in SEQ catchments. During 2004-2005 it is estimated that more than $3.5 million was expended by community groups and local governments on improvement and rehabilitation of riparian areas. This work involved more than 3,300 volunteers as well as government agency staff and others.
- In the three years to 2006 the work of regional natural resource management bodies resulted in a region-wide
assessment and prioritising of this type of work.
Decision Support Tools
- There has been considerable development of the decision support tools available to Partners for improved
understanding of the waterways and catchments. Scenarios have been generated to test the effectiveness of a range of management actions over time. - Environmental Management Support Systems have been developed for the Toowoomba, Western, Noosa,
Maroochy/Mooloolah, Caboolture/Pumicestone, Pine, Brisbane/Bremer, Logan/Albert, and Gold Coast catchments. Receiving Water Quality models have been developed for most of the estuaries and Moreton Bay.
Education and Extension
- An extensive public awareness and education program has been established and elaborated over the last five years of the Strategy. It involves newsletters, workshops, special waterways-focussed events, media relations, online resources and attendance at field days and events.
- Widespread brand recognition of the Healthy Waterways name, logo and the “because we’re all in the same boat” tagline.
- Two annual events generate considerable publicity for the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership. These are the
Ecosystem Health Report Card which highlight the state of the region’s waterways, and the Healthy Waterways Awards which gives recognition to efforts contributing to achieving the SEQ Healthy Waterways Vision.
Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives
- Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives for SEQ riverine, estuarine and coastal waters have been included in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 (EPP Water), effective 1 May 2006.