The location for the second round of Burnett River Water Quality project for erosion control and water quality works has been announced.
The end of 2020 marked the beginning of the Burnett River Water Quality project that aimed to stop 16,000 tons of fine sediment, from erosion along the river, being washed out to the Great Barrier Reef each year.
Since the inception of the Burnett River Water Quality project works have been underway at the headwaters of the river and now the second site for the project to continue the works has been announced.
The new project work will take place on the lower reaches of the Kolan River, and it will extend along almost 900 metres of the waterway, where streambank stabilisation will take place to reduce the erosion currently on site and to prevent further erosion in the future.
The banks of the river will be reprofiled with 190 pile fields, 38 rootball logs and 76 pinned logs, to strengthen the banks, reduce wave action against the sides of the river, and allow for easier vegetation growth.
Once complete, the streambanks will be revegetated to encourage biodiversity in the area and prevent sediment impacts.
Burnett Mary Regional Group will continue to partner with Alluvium Consulting, Gidarjil Development Corporation and GWT Earth Moving to provide the on-ground earthworks and revegetation, and subsequent monitoring of water quality in the area.
“We’ve seen very positive results in erosion control and streambank remediation at previous sites,” Burnett Mary Regional Group CEO Sheila Charlesworth said.
“Through this work we’re preventing ongoing damage being done to the reef and the ecosystems that connect to it. The work on the Kolan River is another positive recovery effort.”
The work will officially commence in late 2022.
It will prevent erosion from cutting further into nearby agricultural land, improve the habitats of river species in the area, strengthen riparian condition along the banks, and reduce sediment loads to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Burnett River Water Quality project is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust program.
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