Project set to improve flood resilience and help safeguard Mt Sylvia

A $1.8M major rehabilitation project to stabilise creek banks, improve flood resilience, and help future-proof Mount Sylvia Road and surrounds from flood damage will get underway this month.

Resilient Rivers SEQ will soon commence creek bank stabilisation and revegetation works at three separate priority sites along Blackfellow Creek, adjacent to Mount Sylvia Road, in the Woodbine to Mount Sylvia areas.

Council’s Environment Portfolio Councillor Cheryl Steinhardt said the civil works and revegetation are designed to stabilise the creek bank to reduce erosion, slow the flow of water, and provide protection for farmland and the key community asset of Mount Sylvia Road.

“This project will focus on three sites that have been prioritised through hydrological assessment.

“The project sites, located on Council and State-owned land, road reserves as well as private land, have experienced considerable impacts from flooding in the 2011, 2013 and 2022 flood events.

“The sites, and surrounding farmland, are at high risk of experiencing more damage during major flood events and these works will help prevent this from occurring,” Cr Steinhardt said.

About 12,000 tonnes of rock will be used and 10,000 native trees and shrubs planted as part of the project, which is being delivered by Lockyer Valley Regional Council, in partnership with Resilient Rivers SEQ.

Cr Steinhardt said works were expected to run from late October 2024 until the end of April 2025 and would provide significant benefits to nearby communities, road users and those downstream.

“The work will be positive for the community by helping to reduce further flood damage to the creek bank and road as well as reduce downstream erosion by slowing the flow of water.

“Revegetation at the sites will commence from January 2025 and run for a period of three years, over which time the site will be monitored and maintained,” Cr Steinhardt said.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Treasurer and Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan said this is a great example of working together to create a more resilient region.

“Lockyer Valley Regional Council is pleased to partner with Resilient Rivers SEQ through the Council of Mayors (SEQ) to reduce erosion and limit the sediment load flowing through South East Queensland’s waterways.

“Damage to waterways in the Lockyer Valley does not stop in our region, but instead flows on to impact the Mid-Brisbane River and Moreton Bay, which is why it is crucial this is tackled as a region, not just one council,” Mayor Milligan said.

Resilient Rivers SEQ is an initiative of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) and has successfully delivered coordinated catchment management for more than 10 years as a partnership with South East Queensland councils, and key regional waterway and catchment organisations. For more information, visit: https://resilientrivers.com.au/