The Maroochy River Recovery Program:Background, Achievements & the FutureThe Maroochy River Recovery Program:Background, Achievements & the Future

Mick SmithProgram Coordinator, Waterways

OverviewOverview• The Maroochy River – an overview

• How Healthy is the Maroochy River?

• What is Maroochy River Recovery (MRR)?

• Maroochy River Recovery Achievements

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• Where to from here?

• The Maroochy River – an overview

• How Healthy is the Maroochy River?

• What is Maroochy River Recovery (MRR)?

• Maroochy River Recovery Achievements

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• Where to from here?

The Maroochy River - LocationThe Maroochy River - Location

Characteristic Value

Population 95000

Area (hec.) 62000

Major Tributaries 7

Waterways (km) 2800

Land Use Types 32

FLORAFLORA TOURISMTOURISM

FAUNAFAUNA LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE

FISHINGFISHING

AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

The Maroochy River - ValuesThe Maroochy River - Values

POINT SOURCES

The Maroochy River - PressuresThe Maroochy River - Pressures

DIFFUSE URBANDIFFUSE RURAL

How Healthy is the Maroochy River ?How Healthy is the Maroochy River ?

Regional Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program

Maroochy River 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

EstuaryC C D+ D C D+

FreshwaterC+ C+ C C– C+ C–

ElevatedNutrients

ElevatedSewageNutrientSignals

Poor Riparian

Cover

LowDissolvedOxygen

BetterBeautifulBrilliantMAROOCHY

BetterBeautifulBrilliantMAROOCHY

What is Maroochy River Recovery ?What is Maroochy River Recovery ?

Maroochy River Recovery Initiative14 Complementary Projects – $3.6 million

POINTPOINT URBANURBAN RURALRURAL• On-ground works

• Engagement and Partnerships• Planning and Policy

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• On-ground works• Engagement and Partnerships

• Planning and Policy• Monitoring and Evaluation

Point Source - AchievementsPoint Source - Achievements

• STP upgrade

• Maroochy Alliance

• Results:

< 3 mg L-1 N

1 mg L-1 P

• STP upgrade

• Maroochy Alliance

• Results:

< 3 mg L-1 N

1 mg L-1 P

Urban Diffuse - AchievementsUrban Diffuse - Achievements

Urban Diffuse - AchievementsUrban Diffuse - Achievements

Manual for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control

Manual for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control

Urban Diffuse - AchievementsUrban Diffuse - Achievements

Internal & External Training

Programs

Internal & External Training

Programs

Urban Diffuse - AchievementsUrban Diffuse - Achievements

Developing Industry

Partnerships

Developing Industry

Partnerships

Urban Diffuse - AchievementsUrban Diffuse - Achievements

Field Days & Demonstration

Projects

Field Days & Demonstration

Projects

Rural Diffuse - AchievementsRural Diffuse - AchievementsLarge Scale Riparian Rehabilitation - $1 millionLarge Scale Riparian Rehabilitation - $1 million

• 8 km of stream rehabilitated

• 16 km of protective fencing

• 600 camphor laurels treated

• 21 landholders involved

• 8 km of stream rehabilitated

• 16 km of protective fencing

• 600 camphor laurels treated

• 21 landholders involved

20062006 20072007

Rural Diffuse - AchievementsRural Diffuse - AchievementsWaterways Community Grants - $330,000Waterways Community Grants - $330,000

Supporting:

•Community Groups

•Schools

•Private Landholders

Supporting:

•Community Groups

•Schools

•Private Landholders

Rural Diffuse - AchievementsRural Diffuse - Achievements

Developed SkillsDeveloped Skills

• Improved landholder extension

• Identified knowledge gaps

• Contract management

• Refined rehabilitation techniques

• Improved landholder extension

• Identified knowledge gaps

• Contract management

• Refined rehabilitation techniques

Community Engagement - AchievementsCommunity Engagement - Achievements

• River Recovery Badging

• River Pledges

• Multimedia Advertisements

• Partnership Agreements

• Community River Watchers

• River Recovery Badging

• River Pledges

• Multimedia Advertisements

• Partnership Agreements

• Community River Watchers

Monitoring and EvaluationMonitoring and Evaluation

• Local Monitoring Program

• Investigative Monitoring

• Lakes Monitoring

• Event Monitoring

• Riparian Rehab Monitoring

• On-site Sewerage Systems

• Local Monitoring Program

• Investigative Monitoring

• Lakes Monitoring

• Event Monitoring

• Riparian Rehab Monitoring

• On-site Sewerage Systems

Where to from here?Where to from here?

Maroochy River Recovery – Stage 2Maroochy River Recovery – Stage 2

Focus on the Estuary

Maroochy River Plan

Improve E & SC Practice

Build on Stage 1 Achievements

Broaden Community Ownership

Focus on the Estuary

Maroochy River Plan

Improve E & SC Practice

Build on Stage 1 Achievements

Broaden Community Ownership

ConclusionsConclusions

Maroochy River is in FAIR HEALTH

A program for our waterway’s FUTURE

Increasing COMMUNITY ownership.

Better, Beautiful, Brilliant MAROOCHY

Maroochy River is in FAIR HEALTH

A program for our waterway’s FUTURE

Increasing COMMUNITY ownership.

Better, Beautiful, Brilliant MAROOCHY