Seqwater has been working with the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group (LBCCG) to deliver a series of projects including tree planting, weed control and livestock fencing as measures to protect water and the environment.

In the past year alone, as a way to prevent erosion and improve water quality, more than 14,000 trees have been planted within the Baroon Dam catchment, which spans 7,400 hectares across the Blackall Ranges.

Seqwater Source Protection Planning Principal Greg Greene said the project brought the total to 49,000 trees planted across the catchment over the past 4 years, to include others planted in earlier years, which continue to be nurtured.

“The water from Baroon Pocket Dam is treated at Landers Shute Water Treatment Plant, which supplies approximately 75% of the drinking water to the Sunshine Coast region,” Mr Greene said.

“Water quality across the catchment can be impacted by various issues including cattle defecating near waterways, landslides, land clearing and other rural and urban land uses, so it’s important to invest in initiatives that protect our catchment areas and waterways.”

Mr Greene said apart from the great water quality improvement benefits we are seeing, the program has also been supporting local employment and a regional economy, with 80 per cent of expenditure kept in the community.

“The source protection work carried out in the catchment spanned a 20-year partnership with the LBCCG to bring about a range of benefits, not only for people today, but for generations to come,” Mr Greene said.

Some of the work delivered by Seqwater and LBCCG across the catchment includes:

• Installation of more than 8km of waterway fencing to exclude stock
• More than 14,000 trees planted to prevent erosion, with the nurturing of 35,000 additional trees planted in earlier years
• 50 hectares of weed control work
• Five hectares of landslide management
• Construction of three Creek Crossings for stock
• Creation of 14 off-stream water points for stock

 “Seqwater and LBCCG share a commitment to sustainable catchment management, restoring and protecting our drinking water sources and working with the community to protect water quality,” Mr Greene said.