State Government helping to protect Burdekin waterways

Streams and waterways in the Burdekin Shire are set to be improved as part of an $8.3 million program of river improvement works announced by the Queensland Government.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Kerry Shine said the works, subject to any necessary approvals, includes flood mitigation and riparian zone management and improvement projects.

Mr Shine said he had endorsed the Burdekin Shire River Trust’s proposal to carry out works valued at $91,000 under this year’s program.

“As well as responding to events such as floods, Queensland’s 17 River Improvement Trusts undertake preventative and remedial works such as restoring stream banks, controlling weeds and revegetating degraded riparian areas,” Mr Shine said.

“In the Burdekin Shire, the Trust will work on rejuvenating and revegetating erosion-prone areas of the riparian corridors.

“They also plan to continue maintaining a clear flow path in streams, which have been disrupted in some areas by an unnatural level of vegetation growth.”

Another project involves constructing a low embankment across the stormwater drain for RitaIsland to reduce seawater surge from accessing the upper sections of the drain.

This year’s total works program includes 92 individual projects to be undertaken by 14 trusts and includes 29 projects carried over from the last financial year, and will involve 14 of the trusts.

The River Improvement Trust Act 1940 was enacted after the lower BurdekinRiver area was severely damaged by cyclone-induced flooding.

It enabled the formation of the Burdekin Shire River Improvement Trust, which planned, built and maintained works to protect the banks of the river against further flooding.

In later years, a further 16 trusts were formed for river systems in North and South East Queensland that were also subjected to regular flood events.

Queensland's 17 River Improvement Trusts are:

Boonah Shire, BurdekinShireRivers, CairnsRiver, Cardwell Shire, Clifton Shire, Don River, Douglas Shire, HerbertRiver, IpswichRivers, Johnstone Shire, Jondaryan Shire, Millmerran Shire, PioneerRiver, Stanthorpe Shire, Wambo Shire, Warwick Shire and WhitsundayRivers.

Funding of River Improvement Trust works is obtained from various sources, including local, State and Federal governments.

26 October 2006