The extended partnership was announced on World Water Day in recognition of this year’s theme, Be the change, highlighting how local actions can make a positive difference to waterways.
Seqwater Chief Executive Officer Neil Brennan said for 15 years, the organisations had been working together with local communities upstream of North Pine Dam (Lake Samsonvale) to control vine weeds that threaten the health of the North Pine River, which is a key drinking water catchment for the Moreton Bay Region and South East Queensland.
“Water treatment starts at our catchments and Seqwater relies on large open catchments covering more than 1.2 million hectares of land, 95 per cent of which we do not own or manage, which is why community partnerships like this are so important to achieving better land management and water quality outcomes,” Mr Brennan said.
“Together we’re committed to restoring and protecting South East Queensland’s drinking water catchments, including from riparian weeds like the invasive vine cats claw and Madeira vine which smother native vegetation so important to strengthening river banks.
“Seqwater is delighted to be extending our partnership with PRCA, which is delivering real, tangible results,
harnessing local networks and experience and helping us to provide a safe, secure and cost-effective drinking
water supply.”
PRCA President Derek Johnson said the new funding would help the not-for-profit organisation to continue to plan and deliver multi-year weed eradication, soil erosion prevention and riparian land care programs.
“Through Seqwater’s support, we have worked since the early 2000s to significantly improve the health of 22 kilometres of the river and Terrors Creek,” Mr Johnson said.
“The river was once in a terrible state, with many thousands of riparian trees near death due to cats claw. Now the vines are almost gone, and the river looks amazing, the trees healthy and able to continue to stabilize the river banks, to enhance the condition of the North and South Pine River catchments.”
The North Pine River catchment is a source of water supply for Dayboro, an off-grid community and also for North Pine Dam (Lake Samsonvale), the region’s fourth largest supply dam.
As part of the expanded program, weed control work is also being supported by Moreton Bay Regional Council and river erosion and farm planning works are being delivered by environmental organisation Healthy Land and Water.
The partnership is one of eight Seqwater has with land care and catchment groups across South East Queensland, which have collectively delivered a range of activity over the last year including:
- managing more than 230 kilometres of riparian vine weed control along rivers
- engagement with residents of more than 180 properties offering weed control advice and support
- more than 50,000 trees planted as part of riparian revegetation
- more than 10 kilometres of fencing to protect waterways
