State Government helping to protect Far North’s waterways

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

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

Mr Shine said the Government had endorsed works proposed by the Cairns Trust valued at more than $537,000.

“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.

“The Cairns Trust will work on the revegetation and restoration on banks of various streams, stabilise eroding bank sites, reduce downstream sediment and preserve agricultural land.

“They will also work on improving the alignment of smaller steep streams.”

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, Burdekin Shire Rivers, Cairns River, Cardwell Shire, Clifton Shire, Don River, Douglas Shire, Herbert River, Ipswich Rivers, Johnstone Shire, Jondaryan Shire, Millmerran Shire, Pioneer River, Stanthorpe Shire, Wambo Shire, Warwick Shire and Whitsunday Rivers.

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

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