Transcript

Southern Gold Coast Catchment Story

This map journal is part of a series prepared for the catchments of South East Queensland.

Table of contents

1. Understanding how water flows in the catchment

2. How to view this map journal

3. Map journal for the Southern Gold Coast - water movement

4. Southern Gold Coast Catchment Story

5. Values of the catchment - environment and social

6. Values of the catchment - land use

7. Values of the catchment - overland flow, retention areas

8. Natural landscape features - geology and topography (Nerang River)

9. Natural landscape features - geology and topography (Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek and Pacific Beaches)

10. Natural features - rainfall

11. Natural features - vegetation in the Nerang River Catchment

12. Natural features - vegetation in the Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek sub-catchments and Pacific Beaches

13. Modified features - vegetation clearing

14. Modified features - channels and infrastructure

15. Modified features - dams and weirs

16. Water flow

17. The subcatchments

18. Nixon Creek

19. Numinbah Valley and Cave Creek

20. Upper Little Nerang Creek (East and West Branch)

21. Hinze Dam and surrounds (Tonys Creek and Waterfall Creek)

22. Hinze Dam and surrounds (Advancetown, Wild Cattle Creek, Big Ben Creek, Little Nerang Creek - lower)

23. Mudgeeraba Creek

24. Bonogin Creek and Wyangan Creek

25. Worongary Creek

26. Gin House Creek

27. Carrara

28. Boobegan Creek

29. Little Tallebudgera Creek

30. Lower Nerang River

31. Upper Tallebudgera Valley

32. Guineas Creek and Oyster Creek

33. Lower Tallebudgera and Palm Beach

34. Currumbin Valley

35. Currumbin Creek

36. Pacific Beaches, Coolangatta Creek and Flat Rock Creek

37. Summary

38. Acknowledgements

39. Data sources and further information

Understanding how water flows in the catchment

To effectively manage a catchment it is important to have a collective understanding of how the catchment works. This map journal gathers information from experts and other data sources to provide that understanding.

The information was gathered using the ‘walking the landscape’ process*, where experts systematically worked through a catchment in a facilitated workshop, to incorporate diverse knowledge on the landscape features and processes, both natural and human. It focussed on water flow and the key factors that affect water movement.

The map journal was prepared by the Queensland Wetlands Program in the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, in collaboration with local partners.

Main image. Aerial view of Burleigh Heads and mouth of Tallebudgera Creek - provided by City of Gold Coast.

*The ‘walking the landscape’ process involves local stakeholders systematically working through a catchment in a facilitated workshop, to incorporate diverse knowledge on the landscape (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2012) - see links at the end of this map journal for further information.

How to view this map journal

This map journal is best viewed in Chrome or Firefox, not Explorer.

Please note that the use of the terms 'Catchment' and 'Basin' are sometimes used interchangeably. In this map journal the term 'Catchment' has been used.

Map Journal for the Southern Gold Coast – water movement

This Map Journal describes the location, extent and values of catchments within the southern Gold Coast region. It demonstrates the key features which influence water flow, including geology, topography, rainfall and runoff, natural features and human modifications and land uses.

Knowing how water moves in the landscape is fundamental to sustainably manage the catchment and the values it provides.

Note that the use of the terms 'Catchment' and 'Basin' are sometimes used interchangeably. In this map journal the term 'Catchment' has been used.

In addition the term, ‘Southern Gold Coast Catchments’ relates to the geographic location of the catchments included in this Map Journal product and do not refer to any particular catchment terminology.

Southern Gold Coast Catchment Story

The Southern Gold Coast Catchment area identified for this story is located south of Brisbane and includes the Nerang, Tallebudgera, Currumbin and Pacific Beaches catchments (click for flow animation).

The Nerang River catchment stretches from the hinterland to the coast, and covers a catchment area of 49,330 hectares, the largest river system on the Gold Coast. Mudgeeraba Creek is also included in the Nerang River catchment.

The Tallebudgera Creek catchment is south of the Nerang River catchment, extending from the Springbrook Plateau to the Pacific Ocean, covering a catchment area of 9,770 hectares and flows over 27 kilometres.

The Currumbin Creek catchment is south of the Tallebudgera Creek catchment, extending from Springbrook National Park and the McPherson range in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east and is approximately 20 kilometres in length.

The Pacific Beaches area, including Flat Rock Creek, is the most easterly catchment area in this story.

These catchment areas fall primarily within the City of Gold Coast.

The Nerang River flows into the Broadwater at the southern end of Moreton Bay, and then to The Tasman Sea. Tallebudgera and Currumbin flow directly into the Tasman. The Coomera catchment lies to the north, and the south is bound by the New South Wales state border.

Main image. Smales Park, Tallebudgera, restoration project - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Values of the catchment – environmental and social

The southern catchments of the Gold Coast contain many environmental, economic and social values. The headwaters of all the catchments (aside from the Pacific Beaches area) start in pristine, protected areas that are well vegetated, with various land use changes moving downstream.

The City of Gold Coast has a population of more than 500,000 people and the catchment incorporates many urban centres, including Nerang, Surfers Paradise, Mudgeeraba, Robina, Tallebudgera, Currumbin and Coolangatta, plus rural residential areas such as Beechmont and Springbrook.

The catchment areas provide for many social and recreational activities such as camping, canoeing, boating, fishing, bush walking, mountain biking, horse riding and holidaymaking. These activities not only provide substantial social and health benefits but they are also very important for tourism.

Audrey's Crossing, Tallebudgera Creek - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Values of the catchment – land use

Land use in the catchment area varies significantly between conservation areas, grazing, rural living and rural residential, as well as highly developed urban centres.

The Nerang River catchment supports a variety of land uses including protected areas such as Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park, grazing native vegetation, rural living, water supply (Hinze Dam), horse studs, industrial areas and urban residential.

The Tallebudgera Creek catchment is similar in its main land uses, beginning with nature conservation in its headwaters, moving to areas for grazing and horticulture, as well as rural residential, and urban residential and other industries.

The Currumbin Creek catchment is also a mixture of protected areas, grazing, farming, and different residential types (rural residential, rural living and urban residential).

Further south, the Pacific Beaches area is mostly urban residential and also features the Gold Coast Airport and other industries.

These different land use types combine to make up the land use of the Southern Gold Coast Catchments.

Values of the catchment – overland flow, retention areas

There are many areas in the Southern Gold Coast Catchments that retain water in times of high flow, known as detention or retention areas. Retention and detention areas are used to manage stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and downstream erosion. Retention or detention zones can form naturally in lower parts of the catchment (such as wetland areas), can be left relatively undeveloped or are artificially constructed. Detention areas are developed to, eventually, be left dry between flow events, and retention areas often retain some level of permanent water.

The Nerang River catchment features large retention areas where water is slowed down and retained. There are also many artificial lakes for stormwater retention and treatment around newer developments. Canal systems provide stormwater drainage and contribute to flood mitigation, however, they also transmit storm surges.

The Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek catchments have less of a catchment area, yet still feature water retention and detention zones that play a part in flood mitigation. Around the Pacific Beaches area, there is some dredging for flood mitigation, as well as Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks. Further information about specific areas will be detailed in the sub-catchment slides.

Natural landscape features - geology and topography (Nerang River)

Various geology types make up the Southern Gold Coast Catchment areas.

The Nerang River catchment contains highly permeable basalts in the steep, upper regions. Basalts usually enable high amounts of water infiltration and recharge the groundwater system with good quality water. Combined with steeper slopes in these areas, there is also fast run-off in high flow events. These areas are interspersed with areas of fractured metamorphic rocks (felsites) with water infiltrating through fractures in localised areas.

Further down the catchment, the main geology type is sedimentary rock with low permeability (Neranleigh-Fernvale beds), in a steep to undulating landscape, to flatter areas just prior to the floodplain. In times of rainfall, these areas have high runoff with very little infiltration.

In the lower parts of the Nerang River Catchment, alluvium begins to build and dominate the channels. Along the coast, there are large areas of artificial fill, marine muds and sand. These areas are flat, all of which absorb and hold water, and recharge groundwater systems.

Main image. Purlingbrook Falls, Springbrook National Park - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Natural landscape features - geology and topography (Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek and Pacific Beaches)

Similar to the Nerang River Catchment, the Tallebudgera Creek catchment contains some basalt at the top of the catchment area. The majority of the catchment is steep to undulating landscape.

The main geology in the catchment consists of sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh-Fernvale beds). The alluvium starts high in the catchment along Tallebudgera Creek, building to large areas in the floodplain. Along the coast, there are large areas of artificial fill, marine muds and sand along the coast.

The Currumbin Creek catchment consists of largely alluvium, with some basalt around the edges. There is also a large area of sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh-Fernvale beds). The catchment features a steep to undulating landscape, even in some areas close to the coast.

The Pacific Beaches area also contains a lot of alluvium with colluvium, together with large amounts of sand and artificial fill.

Natural features – rainfall

The Southern Gold Coast catchments receive high to very high rainfall, with the highest falls occurring in the upper areas of the catchments, some areas receiving over 2000mm/year. These areas are some of the highest yielding catchments in South East Queensland for rainfall.

Natural features – vegetation in the Nerang River Catchment

Vegetation affects how water flows through the catchment, and this process is affected by land use and management practices.

Historically, the vegetation in the Nerang River Catchment was dominated by rainforests and scrubs in the upper reaches, with notophyll vine forests and microphyll fern forests and thickets on the higher peaks. There were wet eucalypt open forests in the upper and lower regions of the catchments.

Large areas of the mid catchment consisted of eucalypt woodlands to open forests, dominated by species such as Queensland white stringybark, pink bloodwood and blue gum.

The lower areas of the catchment consisted of melaleuca open woodlands on depositional plains, dominated by species such as swamp paperbark.

Along the coast there were small areas of open heaths and dwarf open heaths as well as areas of rainforests and scrubs and small patches of mangrove and saltmarsh.

This vegetation slowed water, allowing it to be retained for longer in the landscape and recharging groundwater aquifers, reducing the erosion potential and loss of soil from the catchment.

*Note that the regional ecosystems have been grouped into broad vegetation groups to suit the level of detail for this catchment story. Further detail about regional ecosystems and their structure can be found here.

Natural features – vegetation in the Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek sub-catchments and Pacific Beaches

The vegetation in the Tallebudgera Creek Catchment historically had patches of rainforests and scrubs around the boundary of the catchment, with large areas of wet eucalypt open forests dominated by species such as flood gum, red mahogany, brush box, turpentine and silvertop stringybark.

The middle of the catchment also supported eucalypt woodlands to open forests in large patches with various species of gum. Towards the lower catchment area the vegetation consisted of melaleuca open woodlands on depositional plains, dominated by species such as swamp paperbark. Around the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek there were communities of mangroves and saltmarsh.

The Currumbin Creek Catchment, historically, had large areas of rainforests and scrubs, mostly at higher elevations. The rest of the catchment was dominated by wet eucalypt open forests. Melaleuca open woodlands featured in the lower reaches of the catchment. There were also some areas of open heath and mangroves and saltmarshes.

The Pacific Beaches area contained a mix of wet eucalypt open forests, melaleuca open woodlands, and large areas of open heaths and dwarf open heaths on coastal dunefields, sandplains and headlands.

This vegetation slowed water, allowing it to be retained for longer in the landscape and recharging groundwater aquifers, reducing the erosion potential and loss of soil from the catchment.

*Please also note that the regional ecosystems have been grouped into broad vegetation groups to suit the level of detail for this catchment story. Further detail about regional ecosystems and their structure can be found here.

Modified features – vegetation clearing

Large areas of the southern Gold Coast catchments were historically cleared for settlement and various land uses.

The Nerang River catchment has retained large areas of remnant vegetation in the upper to mid reaches. The lower areas have been significantly cleared for various land uses including urban development.

The Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek catchments are similar in that there is some remnant vegetation remaining, mostly in the upper to mid areas and on slopes. There are cleared areas in the lower reaches of the catchment, with some mangrove and saltmarsh areas remaining.

The Pacific Beaches area has been significantly cleared, with small patches of various vegetation types remaining.

Large areas of vegetation have regrown since initial clearing, and there are relatively large areas of remnant and regrowth vegetation across the catchment.

Explore the Swipe Map using either of the options below.*

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These developments and activities change the shape of the landscape and can modify water flow patterns.

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Modified features – channels and infrastructure

Infrastructure, such as roads, railways, canal areas and creek crossings, can create impermeable surfaces and barriers that redirect water through single points or culverts, leading to channeling of water and increased water flow rates.

The Gold Coast area contains more than 400 kilometres of constructed canals. Canals range from a mix of fresh and estuarine water, to fully estuarine systems. These canal developments provide a range of opportunities for many residents including boating and recreational fishing. The canals and lakes provide habitat to a range of aquatic, terrestrial and marine flora and fauna. Canals sometimes have locks and tidal gates that control freshwater and tidal flows.

There are also piped systems that have replaced natural hydrological flow paths including trapazoidal drains, stormwater drains and other channelised areas mostly associated with urban development. Most stormwater drains flow to inland waterways with few ocean outfalls.

Mudgeeraba creek culvert construction - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Modified features – dams and weirs

Dams and weirs also modify the natural water flow patterns, by holding water and can also remove the natural flood peak from rivers.

Hinze Dam, and the associated Advancetown Lake, is the largest water storage in the area and is the main drinking water supply for the Gold Coast region. The most recent upgrade saw the wall raised by 15 metres, doubling the dam’s capacity and providing increased water security and flood mitigation.

It is an un-gated dam, meaning that when it reaches 100 per cent capacity, water flows over the spillway and safely out of the dam. Hinze Dam has a low sedimentation rate. The dam is a popular recreational destination, featuring lakeside parks, walking, bike and horse trails and barbeque areas for public use.

Little Nerang Dam is on Little Nerang Creek, directly upstream of Hinze Dam. An ungated dam, it is located on the confluence of Little Nerang West branch and Little Nerang East branch that meet approx 1.6 kilometres upstream of Little Nerang Dam wall.

The catchments also have numerous rural water storages that also modify water flow.

Main image. Aerial shot of Hinze dam - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Water flow

Water flows across the landscape into streams and eventually into the main watercourse.

The remaining water either sinks into the ground, where it supports a variety of terrestrial and groundwater dependent ecosystems, or used for other purposes.

The upper reaches of the catchments have relatively steep slopes that create the potential for increased runoff that may lead to flooding in areas where the floodplain has restricted channels and gullies.

The restricted channels and gullies eventually flatten out to form waterways that meander across the floodplain. They pass through alluvial areas which store and release water, prolonging the time streams flow.

The subcatchments

A catchment is an area with a natural boundary (for example ridges, hills or mountains) where all surface water drains to a common channel to form rivers or creeks.*

Larger catchments are made up of smaller areas, sometimes called subcatchments.

The Southern Gold Coast catchments consist of large and small subcatchments.

For the purposes of this map journal, the Nerang catchment can be divided into:

• Nixon Creek

• Numinbah Valley and Cave Creek

• Upper Little Nerang Creek

• Hinze Dam and surrounds (Tonys Creek, Advancetown, Waterfall Creek, Little Nerang Creek, Wild Cattle Creek, Big Ben Creek, Pine)

• Mudgeeraba Creek Upper

• Bonnogin Creek and Wyangan Creek

• Carrara

• Gin House Creek

• Worongary Creek

• Boobegan Creek

• Lower Nerang River

• Little Tallebudgera Creek

The Tallebudgera, Currumbin and Pacific Beaches catchments can be divided into:

• Upper Tallebudgera Valley

• Lower Tallebudgera

• Guineas Creek

• Oyster Creek

• Currumbin Valley

• Currumbin Creek

• Pacific Beaches, Coolangatta Creek and Flat Rock Creek

The characteristics of each sub-catchment are different, and therefore water will flow differently in each one.

*Definition sourced from the Gold Coast City Council website.

Nixon Creek

Starting at the top of the Nerang Catchment, Nixon Creek runs almost parallel to the Nerang River and joins the river in the Numinbah Valley. The catchment receives high to very high rainfall over mostly basalt geology. Basalts usually enable high amounts of water infiltration and recharge the groundwater system with good quality water.

The channel itself is generally confined and incised in this sub-catchment.

Lamington National Park provides areas of exceptional ecological importance, including The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. There has been some clearing of vegetation in the valley areas, over basalt geology for land uses such as grazing and rural living.

Numinbah Valley and Cave Creek

Cave Creek joins the Nerang River in its upper reaches, with most of this small sub-catchment being underlain by basalts. There is a strong waterway restoration focus by landholders in the area, and Springbrook National Park is another area of high ecological importance. Grazing and rural living are the main uses of the area, and include small areas of irrigated pastures.

The Nerang River begins in the Numinbah Valley sub-catchment, over basalt geology and strips of impervious rhyolite. There is the start of low permeability sedimentary rock (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds) towards the end of the sub-catchment. A steep, high-energy system, the channel is rocky, with boulders and is mostly bedrock confined.

There are areas of gorge like channels towards the end of the sub-catchment.

Upper Little Nerang Creek (East and West Branch)

Little Nerang Creek has headwaters in Springbrook National Park. It is a well-vegetated catchment, joining at Little Nerang Dam from both the east and west branches. The upper reaches have large areas of basalt and impermeable rhyolite strips before the geology changes at the end of the sub-catchment to sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds).

Little Nerang Dam is an ungated, water supply storage. Mary River Cod are present in the dam. The surrounding land uses include grazing and rural living.

Hinze Dam and surrounds (Tony’s Creek and Waterfall Creek)

Tony’s Creek is west of the Numinbah Valley and joins the Nerang River in the Numinbah Valley sub-catchment. Waterfall Creek joins the Nerang River just prior to the Advancetown sub-catchment, where Hinze Dam is located.

Tony’s Creek has a large area of basalt in its upper reaches, the geology then changes to rhyolite (felsites), in the lower half of the sub-catchment. There is fast runoff over steep slopes in this area.

Waterfall Creek contains a mix of geologies and, therefore, water flows differently over each one. A band of rhyolite is followed by basalt before the geology changes again to sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds). Flows can be well absorbed over the basalt, however flow fast over the other two geologies without much infiltration.

Both areas contain a mix of protected areas, grazing, rural living and plantations.

Hinze Dam and surrounds (Advancetown, Wild Cattle Creek, Big Ben Creek, Little Nerang Creek - lower)

The tributaries of Advancetown and Wild Cattle Creek/Big Ben Creek are well vegetated, apart from the impoundment area of Hinze Dam and flow into the western branch of the dam. There are Tilapia (pest fish) and Mary River Cod present in the dam. The main land use in this area is for water supply.

The catchments are primarily underlain by sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds) which allows very little infiltration and are high runoff areas.

Little Nerang Creek contributes to the eastern branch of Hinze Dam and is also underlain by sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds). Little Nerang Dam sits at the top of this catchment. The area is also very well vegetated.

Mudgeeraba Creek

Mudgeeraba Creek is another major watercourse, flowing separately from the Nerang River to the coast.

Mudgeeraba Creek is almost exclusively over sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds) apart from an area of basalt at the very top of the catchment.

The upper Mudgeeraba Creek (Austinville) area is a hotspot for biodiversity with Land for Wildlife properties and strict covenants to restore and maintain biodiversity. The land use in the areas is mainly protected area (Springbrook National Park).

Further down Mudgeeraba Creek, the channel is semi-confined and incised with large cobbles. There is some extraction from the creek and shallow aquifers. There is an increase in rural living areas with some grazing and patches of intensive horticulture. There are also some piped causeways in the area, and onsite sewage systems which can impact on local water quality. The area is well vegetated on the slopes and riparian vegetation has been retained in cleared areas.

Just before the Pacific Motorway, the land use begins to intensify as more urban residential is present.

Firth Park regularly floods and acts as a detention area for flood flows. The park also contains herbaceous wetlands. At times the flood flows will split into two and flow over the Pacific Motorway. The Motorway forms a major hydrological barrier at this point.

Bonogin Creek and Wyangan Creek

Both Bonogin and Wyangan Creek flow north from the south to join Mudgeeraba Creek just outside Mudgeeraba, upstream of the Pacific Motorway. Both sub-catchments sit on sedimentary rocks with low permeability (Neranleigh Fernvale Beds) resulting in a short, steep and undulating landscape, and are areas of high runoff in times of flow. In times of high flow, the areas are prone to flash flooding in what is usually a low energy system. Water can back up Wyangan Creek and Bonogin Creek when Mudgeeraba Creek is in flood.

Springbrook National Park and other conserved areas provide good vegetation cover. There are cleared areas for grazing and areas for rural living or ‘park living’ (2 acres or less) have retained riparian vegetation. Vine weeds are present in this area.

Wyangan creek - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Worongary Creek

Worongary Creek joins Mudgeeraba Creek from the north west. Mostly over sedimentary rocks with low permeability, the area is subject to fast runoff and flash flooding, especially in the steep to undulating landscape in its headwaters. The landscape flattens out and there are large areas of alluvium in the flat, flood plain area. The area around the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds floods regularly and road culverts can become blocked from high sediment loads. On-site wastewater treatment systems can contribute to elevated levels of nutrients.

Gin House Creek

Gin House Creek is north of the Worongary sub-catchment. The landscape is steep to undulating in the headwaters and flattens out quickly towards the end with high amounts of alluvium. It is a fast runoff area over sedimentary rocks with low permeability, however, there is also a large detention area with overland flow paths in the lower section. Grazing can impact the condition of wetlands in the area. This area has acid sulfate soils.

The sub-catchment is indirectly connected to the Nerang River via a series of canals.

Carrara

The Carrara sub-catchment is north of Gin House Creek and is underlain by sedimentary rocks with low permeability and a steep to undulating landscape, moving to a flat alluvial landscape. Vegetation is quite fragmented in this area, together with intensive land uses such as urban residential, commercial services and manufacturing and industrial.

The flatter areas have a lot of detention zones for overland and flood flows, including the areas of golf courses and canals. Like Gin House Creek, this sub-catchment is indirectly connected to the Nerang River through canal systems.

French Quarter, Emerald Lakes, Carrara - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Boobegan Creek

Boobegan Creek is a highly modified system sitting just downstream of the Mudgeeraba Creek sub-catchment. The landscape is mostly flat with large areas of artificial fill, alluvium and marine muds. There are numerous areas of canal systems, commercial areas, golf courses and the Merrimac Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The area regularly floods and there are many water retention zones, including perched lakes and flood overflow areas (that release to estuarine canals). There is a tide lock just before Nerang Broadbeach Road before the system joins the Nerang River. There is some saltwater intrusion on the canals in this area and overall water quality is low with the presence of brackish water, nitrates and phosphates. Infrastructure such as roads around this area are relatively new and built above the flood level.

Little Tallebudgera Creek

Similar to the lower parts of the Nerang River, the Little Tallebudgera Creek sub-catchment has also been highly modified, is mainly urban residential and contains canal systems and artificial lakes. Its headwaters are hilly with some vegetated areas remaining that may be impacted by future urban growth. These areas experience high runoff in times of flow due to the slope of the landscape and sedimentary rocks with low permeability. Downstream of the highway, the landscape flattens out and more alluvium is present.

The area is tidal and highly influenced by tidal flows. Many areas are subject to flooding when high tidal flows pass through. Lake Orr has a tidal control gates.

Lower Nerang River

The Lower Nerang River is interspersed with canals and eventually flows into The Broadwater.

This area is highly modified with urban residential and recreational areas such as golf courses. There are many multi-branched canal developments, artificial tidal and freshwater lake systems in the floodplain. As a result, there are strong tidal influences in this part of the catchment. The canal systems provide drainage for stormwater and contribute to flood mitigation. During high flows, the Nerang River can break across the Royal Pines Golf course across to the canal system to the east.

Lakes and canals in the Nerang River Catchment provide many other values such as aesthetic views, and areas for fishing, paddling, sailing and boating.

Upper Tallebudgera Valley

Moving to the Tallebudgera Catchment, the Upper Tallebudgera Valley sub-catchment is mainly underlain by sedimentary rocks with low permeability on a steep and hilly landscape. There is high runoff over this geology type and flashy flows. There are some slips occurring in the area when a low permeability geology meets a highly permeable geology such as colluvium or basalt. The catchment is well vegetated on the slopes. Major land uses include protected areas (Springbrook National Park), grazing, rural living and horticulture. Due to the presence of basalt, there are some groundwater recharge areas in the sub-catchment.

Tallebudgera valley - provided by City of Gold Coast

Main image. Upper Tallebudgera Valley - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Guineas Creek and Oyster Creek

Guineas Creek and Oyster Creek sit either side of the main Tallebudgera Creek sub-catchment and join Tallebudgera Creek in the lower, floodplain areas.

Guineas Creek is mostly over low permeable geology with increasing alluvium further downstream. The area around the confluence with Tallebudgera Creek floods due to a number of reasons, such as tidal flows or Tallebudgera Creek backing up.

The Guineas Creek sub-catchment is well vegetated throughout with some cleared areas for mostly rural living and urban residential.

Oyster Creek has well-vegetated upper catchment areas, moving to cleared areas in the mid to lower parts of the sub-catchment. Oyster Creek is fresh before the motorway and estuarine downstream where it joins Tallebudgera Creek near its mouth.

Lower Tallebudgera and Palm Beach

Further down the catchment, Tallebudgera Creek continues on low permeable geology, before an increase in alluvium on the flatter landscape in the floodplain. Although there are many cleared areas, there is still a good amount of riparian vegetation remaining along Tallebudgera Creek itself, including mangroves and saltmarsh.

Land uses in this part of the sub-catchment include rural living and grazing, and eventually urban residential. There are also popular recreational areas and conserved areas such as Burleigh Heads National Park and Tallebudgera Creek Regional Park. These form part of the Burleigh to Springbrook critical corridor.

There are detention areas and a lake (19th Avenue Lake) for high flows. Elanora Wastewater Treatment Plant is located near the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek. Nutrients such as nitrogen resides in sediments around the lower parts of the sub-catchment.

Other flood mitigation techniques used in this sub-catchment include dredging near the mouth that can get blocked by sand.

Currumbin Valley

(Upper Currumbin Creek)

The Currumbin Creek catchment is located just south of Tallebudgera Creek and along the Queensland/New South Wales border.

The Currumbin Valley sub-catchment (upper Currumbin Creek) is mainly underlain by alluvium. There is some basalt to the north of the upper catchment. The area is prone to slips associated with colluvium and there are areas of discontinuous floodplain. The Currumbin Valley sub-catchment is well vegetated on the slopes and in conservation areas such as Springbrook National Park. Currumbin Creek, is situated in a relatively narrow and steep sided valley that supports both disturbed and undisturbed subtropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, open woodland, and remnant littoral rainforest. Further along the catchment, land uses include rural residential and grazing. There have been some extractive industries operating in the past, with the pits now converted to lakes.

The Currumbin Valley is a major biodiversity corridor, with endemic worm species and a rich macroinvertebrate diversity.

Currumbin Creek

(Lower Currumbin Creek)

As Currumbin Creek continues, the geology changes on the north side to sedimentary rocks with low permeability and a large area of alluvium to the south and at the mouth. The terrain is still undulating and hilly through the mid section and flattens out just before the mouth. The density of residential areas increases downstream and there are some canal developments as well as recreational areas.

The lower parts of Currumbin Creek are strongly influenced by tidal flushing and infilling by coastal sands, leading to a natural constriction at the mouth. The area is dredged to minimise flood impacts.

Riparian vegetation is good along most of the creek, with some cleared areas closer to the coast. There are fish habitat areas close to the mouth, and the upper estuary is vegetated with narrow patches of mangrove and Casuarina forest. Mangrove, saltmarsh and Casuarina forest patches are present in the lower reaches of the estuary. These patches are bound by residential and commercial areas.

Aerial view of mouth of Currumbin Creek, looking north to Palm Beach - provided by City of Gold Coast.

Commonwealth games cycling event adjacent to Currumbin Creek.

Pacific Beaches, Coolangatta Creek and Flat Rock Creek

To the south, and along the coast, the Pacific Beaches area is mostly over sand with some alluvium and colluvium to the north.

Most tributaries in this area are drained through underground pipes onto the beach. At times the pipes can get blocked by sand. There are also channelised areas and trapezoidal drains. Flow naturally heads south. There is some groundwater present in very shallow aquifers associated with sand.

The area is highly urbanised, with the Gold Coast Airport, various commercial services and recreational areas. There is little to no riparian vegetation in this highly modified system. Historically, there was Wallum Heath and some is still present around the motorway crossing.

Flat Rock Creek also has piped channels to the beaches, however in upstream areas higher flows are diverted to the creek channel. There are also channelised urban stormwater drains in the upper section and three constructed water bodies at Littleford Family Park, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Alex Griffiths Park.

Flat Rock is more densely vegetated, and seagrass and mangroves are present.

Coolongatta Creek flows from Tugan Hill and Hidden Valley, along mostly floodplain, until Kirra Beach.

Summary

There are a number of significant values in the Southern Gold Coast Catchments including natural, social and economic. The Gold Coast is a haven for lovers of nature and the water. The Southern Gold Catchments are productive in many ways. The various land uses, ranging from National Park to grazing and farming, to urban residential and recreational – all play a significant part in how the catchments function.

The landscape of these catchments, and individual subcatchments, also play a significant role. There are many areas where hillslopes are highly connected to the main stream channel without alluvial, or flatter areas, to buffer them. These areas must be carefully managed as they are key areas where sediment enters the stream network. Increasing development in many areas requires sediment control, reserved detention and retention zones, and vegetation corridors. Large areas of urban residential also place challenges for water quality and weed control.

These catchments show how natural and modified features within the landscape impact water flow. Proper management of the catchment is necessary to ensure that the significant natural and social values are protected, while still allowing for residential development, tourism, farming and other important land use.

Knowing how the catchment functions is also important for future planning, including climate resilience. With this knowledge, we can make better decisions about how we manage this vital area.

Acknowledgements

Developed by the Queensland Wetlands Program in the Department of Environment and Science in partnership with:

City of Gold Coast

Scenic Rim Regional Council

Council of Mayors South East Queensland

Healthy Land and Water

Gold Coast Waterways Authority

This resource should be cited as: Walking the Landscape – Southern Gold Coast Catchments Map Journal v1.0 (2018), presentation, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland.

Images provided by: City of Gold Coast.

The Queensland Wetlands Program supports projects and activities that result in long-term benefits to the sustainable management, wise use and protection of wetlands in Queensland. The tools developed by the Program help wetlands landholders, managers and decision makers in government and industry.

Contact wetlands@des.qld.gov.au or visit https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au

Disclaimer

This map journal has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within the document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this education module is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy.

Data sources and further information

ArcGIS for Desktop | ArcGIS Online | Story Map Journal

Some of the information used to put together this Map Journal can be viewed on the QLD Globe.

The Queensland Globe is an interactive online tool that can be opened inside the Google Earth™ application.

Queensland Globe allows you to view and explore Queensland spatial data and imagery. You can also download a cadastral SmartMap or purchase and download a current titles search.

More information about the layers used can be found here:

Source Data Table

Flooding Information

Scenic Rim Regional Council

City of Gold Coast

Other References

Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creek Catchment Management Plan

Gold Coast Locks

Tallebudgera Catchment

Pacific Beaches Catchment

Nerang River Catchment

Currumbin Creek Catchment

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Last updated: 25 August 2021