Healthy Waterways   Improving our waterways

South East Queensland is blessed with stunning beaches, extensive estuaries, huge sand islands and many kilometres of freshwater streams.

However, the regions ecosystems are under enormous and increasing pressures.

 

South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012

Partners of the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership have developed an integrated set of Action Plans known as South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012 (the Strategy). The Strategy aims to maintain and improve the health of the waterways and catchments of South East Queensland.

 

Strategy Management Action Outcomes   Timing of Implementation 1. Protection of all High Ecological Value areas   Start immediately 2. 100% dry weather reuse of point source discharges (delivering removal of nutrient loads from the system)   Achieve by 2026, with progressive milestones to be determined 3. Adoption of 100% Water Sensitive Urban Design performance standards in all new development   Start immediately 4. Targeted retrofit of existing urban areas to achieve 100% Water Sensitive Urban Design performance standards   Achieve by 2026 5. 50% reduction of the diffuse loads in priority catchments through: - Riparian restoration and in stream rehabilitation - Best Management Practices   Achieve by 2026, with progressive milestones to be determined

Partnership Office

The work of the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership is coordinated through the Partnership Office which delivers five programs:

	Science and Innovation - provides research-based and independent scientific advice to Partners and develops tools to help decisions.
	Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program - monitors the health of 19 catchments, 18 estuaries and Moreton Bay and produces the annual Ecosystem Health Report Card. The Event Monitoring Program monitors major rainfall events.
	Water by Design - aims to build capacity in the water and urban development sectors to use water sensitive urban design.
	Communication, Education and Motivation Program - promotes the adoption and achievement of the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership’s Vision.
	Strategy Coordination and Performance Reporting - coordinates and tracks the 500 actions that Partners have committed to undertake under the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Strategy 2007-2012.

What can you do to help

There are many things you can do to help improve the waterways of South East Queensland. By working collectively we can all make a difference.