Redland Shire Council has welcomed the 2003 Healthy Waterways Ecosystem Health Report Card, displaying vast improvements in the physical condition of Moreton Bay from last year.
“The progress is due primarily to reduced nutrient discharges into Moreton Bay, following massive investments in wastewater treatment plant upgrades across the region,” said Mayor Don Seccombe. “Another contributing factor is the relatively dry year we have experienced with an absence of flooding, which would normally flush pollutants into the Bay. By comparing ratings over the years, the report card provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of investments in waterway and catchment management.”
The Healthy Waterways Ecosystem Health Report Card is an easy to understand summary of the health of rivers, creeks and bays across South East Queensland. Over a period of 12 months, 120 freshwater and more than 240 estuarine and marine sites are monitored throughout the region.
The Mayor said the report card showed good outcomes could be achieved by community action and cooperation, but he said more work still needed to be done.
“There are very few catchment areas in our region which are in good condition and most of our waterways show the strain of the last 200 years of settlement. Careful planning is needed to prevent further decline, with rapid population growth and rising water demand. Excess nitrogen has been identified as a threat to our waterways and most Local Governments across south east Queensland are undertaking a major program of wastewater treatment plant upgrades, investing more than $300 million over the last three years.”
Redland Shire Council has allocated $11 million in the capital works program to upgrade wastewater treatment plants this financial year.
“This will allow Council to meet population growth and address odour control matters while improving wastewater quality,” Mayor Seccombe said. “Augmentation of the Victoria Point plant to cater for additional growth in the area will cost $16 million in State Government and Council funds, while on North Stradbroke Island replacement of the Point Lookout plant is required, at a total project cost of $11 million. About half the properties at Point Lookout are not serviced by reticulated sewerage and this is no longer acceptable due to continued population growth.”
Cleveland Wastewater Treatment Plant was upgraded in November 2002 at a total cost of $13.5 million, with one fifth of residents benefiting from the improved facilities.
“This new Cleveland Wastewater Treatment Plant can service the equivalent of 38,000 people now, and has the potential for future growth,” Mayor Seccombe said. “This report card is an essential way to measure progress, but unless we make major investments in restoration, we will not make any improvements.”
For further information, contact Stephen Dalziel, Senior Communications Consultant, on (07) 3829 8726.
