Resilient Rivers: Lockyer Catchment Action Plan

Resilient Rivers

The Resilient Rivers Initiative is a collaborative effort between local and state government, water utilities and key non-government organisations to improve the health and resilience of South East Queensland's catchments, rivers and Moreton Bay. The Resilient River's vision is: "By 2045, the catchments of South East Queensland will support a resilient, productive, livable and growing region".

Each of the Resilient Rivers stakeholders contribute funds towards the Catchment Investment Program. The Resilient Rivers Taskforce is then responsible for administering the Catchment Investment Program funds towards priority on-ground works identified in Catchment Action Plans. A rolling program of works has been established and as funds become available, projects are prioritised for delivery.

Lockyer Catchment Action Plan

The Lockyer catchment is a vital agricultural hub for Queensland producing vegetables worth more than $260 million annually, which accounts for 19% of the state's vegetable production. This productivity relies heavily on irrigation from groundwater, which is vulnerable to floods and droughts. The devastating floods of 2011 and 2013 caused significant damage, with more than $12 million in repairs needed in the Tenthill Creek sub-catchment alone, disrupting the agricultural industry and impacting the regional economy. View the Lockyer Catchment story.

In 2015, Lockyer Valley Regional Council (LVRC), in partnership with multiple stakeholders and the local community, prepared the Lockyer Catchment Action Plan (LCAP) 2015-2018, one of the first Catchment Action Plans (CAPs) delivered under the Council of Mayors South East Queensland Resilient Rivers Initiative. The LCAP is not just an environmental plan, it's a plan for the community. It recognises the interrelationships between our environment, our people and our economy. Its goal is to achieve the right balance between the three, so that we can continue sustainably producing food in a healthy environment. One of its primary focuses is to address the very high risk of sediment movement from the Lockyer catchment which could threaten Brisbane's water supply and possibly reduce the agricultural productivity of the region. The LCAP outlines a number of on-ground actions which aim to address these risks.

In 2017, LVRC was allocated Catchment Investment Program funding from the Resilient Rivers Taskforce for two major projects identified in the LCAP.

Strategic Revegetation for Lockyer Creek
Improving Community Resilience in the Tenthill Catchment

1. Strategic Revegetation for Lockyer Creek

The Lockyer catchment is crucial for Queensland's agriculture, producing a significant portion of the state's vegetables. However, floods and droughts threaten the groundwater supply and soil quality. The devastating floods of 2011 and 2013 caused significant damage, requiring extensive repairs in the Tenthill Creek sub-catchment. This disruption impacted the agricultural industry and the regional economy.

Following the 2013 flood event, numerous scientific experts studied the Lockyer Creek and provided information on the creek's current state and future management.

One of the scientific management recommendations was to revegetate parts of the Lockyer Creek around Gatton identified as high priority areas, to minimise risks during major flood events such as:

erosion and sediment movement downstream;
creek location changes; and
damage to valuable assets and infrastructure.

What is happening for Lockyer Creek?

2. Improving Community Resilience in the Tenthill Catchment

The 2013 flood event severely impacted the Upper Tenthill area and the economic impact on farmers in the area was high. Large areas of alluvial flats used for irrigated horticulture were washed away. Road crossings were destroyed and access to the valley was substantially constrained for months after the event, resulting in significant financial and social impacts on businesses and residents.

Road crossings have since been reinstated via NDRRA funding with some armouring in place. However, the creek also avulsed to take a new course which has created a straightened reach exceeding 2km in length. This has the potential to cause significant damage to creek banks and assets located downstream in future flood events. In response, LVRC engaged Alluvium to assess and design suitable energy dissipation measures for identified priority locations within the catchment to reduce the stream power and hence reduce damage to assets and erosion.

LVRC is now working with landholders within the Tenthill Creek Catchment to deliver the project and enhance community resilience by:

Stabilising creek banks and alluvial areas at strategic sites to:
- protect infrastructure and mitigate future impacts on key road and farm assets from Junction View to Mount Sylvia.
Restoring native vegetation cover along creek banks via weed removal and revegetation to:
- slow rainwater runoff;
- reduce sediment movement;
- manage salinity;
- increase groundwater intake; and
- improve native habitat.

The Improving Community Resilience in the Tenthill Catchment project officially started works as of October 2024.

Other Initiatives

In addition to key revegetation works, complimentary initiatives are regularly included with a focus on resilience, biodiversity, community, environment and conservation. Some of these initiatives include:

Wildlife next boxes installed at Lake Apex by FOLA.

Community group collaboration and support such as collaborating on local conservation projects and initiatives, and providing assistance to 'friends of' groups, such as installing wildlife nestboxes at Lake Apex.
Collaboration with non-profit organisations, such as:
- BirdLife Southern Queensland on quarterly bird surveys.
- Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland on their Greater Brisbane Platypus eDNA Survey Project through regular water sampling to better understand platypus populations around the Lockyer.
- Lockyer Uplands Catchments Inc on the Bunyas to Border project through collaborative revegetation and habitat restoration, and installation of supplementary habitat such as wildlife drinker Tree Troffs.
Working with NRM groups such as Healthy Land & Water to maximise conservation efforts in the region. Some key projects include:
- SEQ Koala Threat Management Initiatives Program - Koala awareness through workshops and around roads with LMS signs.
Involvement in species research and university initiatives such as supporting research across Council-owned reserves.
Promotion of Cultural Burning through workshops and collaboration on organised burns in Council-owned reserves.
Weed control, including biocontrol, in priority and riparian locations, particularly of Lantana and Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). LVRC also offers weed subsidy programs to help landholders combat weeds.
Water quality monitoring at numerous creek locations across the catchment.

Resilient Rivers: Lockyer Catchment Action Plan