Bremer Healthy Country Wetland Reinstatement and Pasture Renovation – Sellars

(not documented)

Queensland Government (Healthy Country Project)

Australian Government (Healthy Country Extension Project - Caring for our Country program)

Landholder

(not documented)

On-ground work

(none)

Healthy Country Project (Queensland Government)

Landholder

Bremer Catchment Focal Area Local Committee

Healthy Country Extension Project (Australian Government - Caring for our Country program).

(not documented)

(not documented)

21 August 2010

30 April 2011

This project addresses the objectives of the wider Upper Bremer Healthy Country Waterways Restoration Project, working with the community within a defined focal area (Rosevale region) to deliver on-ground works to improve water quality in local waterways and Moreton Bay.

The Bremer Healthy Country River restoration plan undertaken by Griffith University in partnership with the Healthy Country Project identified this project site as one of highest priority sites based on their sediment supply modelling from gully erosion.

This project is a key area in a landscape scale wetland reinstatement project that involves six properties in the northern end of the Bremer focal area. Works have already been carried out on two adjoining properties upstream and the involvement of two properties downstream has been negotiated. All landholders are enthusiastic about the benefits the project will provide. These projects offer a variety of works that will provide a showcase for the Healthy Country program.

This is the only project to date where hillslope erosion and flood plain process are being linked and managed as one unit as a result of the healthy country project. 

Area 1 Hillslope erosion management
The hillslope will undergo contour reshaping to direct concentrated flows to a more stable location. Overland flow has previously directed run-off to a head-cut running perpendicular to a naturally stabilising gully. Works will be enhanced by land type fencing and pasture renovation with 79ha of exotic perennial pastures sown to reduce run-off. This will allow the landholder to manage stock grazing to maintain ground cover. 

Sediment run-off will be further reduced by the erection of exclusion fencing, which includes a major gully system that is undergoing natural repair and also encloses an endangered regional ecosystem (RE = 12.3.3) encouraging natural regeneration.

Area 2 Wetland reinstatement
The main works will be the construction of a dam to close an eroding gully that currently drains the wetland directly into the Bremer River. The closure will occur at the top edge of the wetland and the original wetland overland flow pattern through a series of wetland communities will be restored. Similar works will continue on the neighbouring property to maintain wetland connectivity across the landscape.

This project will:

• improve water quality in the Bremer River through addressing the interrelated water and land management issues that are contributing to nutrients and sediment entering waterways
• construct a dam to close an eroding gully
• erect exclusion fencing to encourage natural regeneration
• construct contour banks to direct concentrated flows to a more stable location
• construct fencing to land type and pasture renovation with 79ha of exotic perennial pastures sown to increase ground cover.

(not documented)

SEQC1647