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Presented at the NABS Annual meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, 2006
in Watershed Science in Surface Drinking Water Supplies 1
Making the connection between healthy waterways and healthy catchments,
southeast Queensland, Australia
S.E. Bunn1, E.G. Abal2, P. Greenfield3, and D. Tarte2.1Centre for Riverine Landscapes, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia, 4111, 2Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4001, 3University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072
Southeast Queensland’s waterways have a high conservation value and support major recreational and commercial fisheries. However, the human footprint from agriculture and a rapidly growing urban population has led to significant changes in catchment hydrology and sediment delivery, declining water quality and loss of aquatic biodiversity. Predicted population increases in the region are likely to further impact on the ecological and economic health of its waterways and catchments, and there are growing community expectations about reversing the trend of decline in ecosystem health. In response to these concerns, government, industry and community stakeholders have worked in close cooperation to develop a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach to understanding and managing the region’s waterways. The key elements of the Healthy Waterways Partnership include: the implementation of management actions ranging from sewage treatment upgrades, to improved planning regimes and rehabilitation of riparian vegetation; a multi-disciplinary science and research program that underpins management and monitors its effectiveness; and a promotional and educational program to ensure that there is community awareness and support for action. This paper provides an overview of the experience gained through development of the Partnership and highlights some of the key factors we believe have contributed to its current success.
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