The fledgling ecosystem growing from Bundaberg Regional Council’s Belle Eden Park Waterway Naturalisation project is showing positive signs, including improved quality of stormwater that passes through the waterway.
The award-winning waterway naturalisation in Ashfield, now just over two years old, transformed a heavily degraded rock-lined drain back to its natural state.
The project saw approximately 55,000 new native trees, shrubs and groundcovers planted in the 800 metre long waterway that runs through the centre of Belle Eden estate.
Planted as tube stock starting out at around 30 to 50 cm high, many of the trees are now estimated to be over six metres tall, including vulnerable Eucalyptus Hallii trees (Goodwood Gum) which are endemic to the area.
Since October 2022, Council has undertaken a number of event-based water quality samples of the stormwater entering and leaving the naturalisation, to help provide a picture of the water quality benefits that the naturalisation may be providing.
Council Natural Resources and Environment portfolio spokesperson Councillor Jason Bartels said the results of the water testing were encouraging.
“Early indications are that the naturalisation is contributing to improving the quality of stormwater runoff,” Cr Bartels said.
“The water that flows through Belle Eden ultimately enters Baldwin Swamp and contributes to the important wetland ecosystem that exists there.
“Cleaning and managing run-off water through natural means contributes greatly to maintaining the health of our waterways and our environment.”
Key water quality indicators have been quantified by the testing to date, including increased dissolved oxygen content, lower turbidity meaning the water is clearer, and a lower total phosphorus content.
Total nitrogen content was also tested, with results showing a decrease between the incoming and outgoing water samples.
Council undertook a survey of residents living in Belle Eden estate, with the results indicating a majority of those surveyed were satisfied with the project.
Roads and Infrastructure (urban) portfolio spokesperson Councillor Larine Statham-Blair said there were a lot of benefits from the naturalisation project.
“Naturalised waterways provide fantastic benefits to the community through better management of stormwater run-off, improved active recreation spaces and increased biodiversity in the natural environment,” Cr Statham-Blair said.
“Council undertook a survey of nearby residents which indicated support for the improvements.
“Around two thirds of respondents reported that they were satisfied or highly satisfied with the results of the naturalisation, and 52% of respondents told us they were using Belle Eden Park more than they did prior to the naturalisation, which is a great outcome.
“Projects like this are about future benefits as much as immediate improvement.”
Cr Statham-Blair said, as the plantings continued to grow and mature, the community could expect to see the benefits of the Belle Eden naturalisation grow as well.
in the meantime, pastoralists are still permitted to flatten land. in time to come, the problems will still be there, just transposed.
A wonderful project at Belle Eden Park that is providing food and shelter for our native flora and fauna as well as visual and recreational benefits for the residents. This restored waterway would also be stopping plastic bags entering Baldwin Swamp and hence the Burnett River. Bundaberg Regional Council urgently needs gross pollution traps installed to stop all the fast food containers, cigarettes and plastic bags entering the drains and then the Burnett River. From memory wasn’t about 30 tons of rubbish recently removed from the River with much of it being plastics.