Council project takes out State award

A Townsville City Council project to transform a deteriorating open drain into a naturalised waterway, filtering stormwater, enhancing water quality, and restoring biodiversity has taken out an Excellence Award at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA – QNT) 2024 Awards last week.

The award for the $2.8 million Bushland Beach naturalisation project recognised Council’s commitment to embedding circular economy practices, sustainability and innovation into the delivery of everyday projects.

Council CEO Joe McCabe said the project sets a benchmark in urban waterway restoration while addressing harmful runoff into the Bohle River and the ocean.

“We are thrilled to see the Bushland Beach Naturalisation project recognised at an inter-state level in the $2-5 million project category,” Mr McCabe said.

“The open drain near Peggy Banfield Park was contributing to poor water quality, erosion, and habitat loss, and by our teams thinking outside the box we’ve been able to transform it into a sustainable, self-regulating waterway.

“The project was a first for Townsville, where Council replaced an 800-metre weed-choked concrete stormwater drain with a naturalised rocky creek bed, ponds and planted 97,000 local native plants from 75 species.

“The project team used advanced stormwater management techniques and ecological engineering to address the complex challenges posed by Townsville’s climate and soil conditions.

“Rather than just acting as a stormwater drain, the project will continue to deliver enhanced benefits for the community as it matures and drive down long-term maintenance costs.”

Division two councillor Brodie Phillips said the main aim of the drain was to improve water quality that flows from residential properties, parks and fields out to the Great Barrier Reef while helping deliver Council’s obligations to improve the Bohle River.

“The old weed-choked stormwater drain was a breeding ground for mozzies and was a real eyesore constantly being clogged with litter and discarded items like shopping trollies,” Cr Phillips said.

“Over time the naturalised drain will deliver improved biodiversity and shade out unwanted weeds, provide a habitat for mosquito predators, improve living soil quality and reduce maintenance costs.

“The project was recognised as a great example of circular economy principles, with old drain material like organic waste collected by Council then mixed with resources like coffee waste and food scraps to convert it into a living mulch utilised throughout the project.”

CEO Joe McCabe said a standout feature of the naturalisation project was the collaborative creation of Living Bags®, an innovative solution co-developed with First Nations Reef Assist Partners.

“This project brought together multiple businesses across the community to transform waste into a range of products and services, vastly improving the project’s success while lowering costs and creating local employment opportunities,” Mr McCabe said.

“The biodegradable Living Bags®, filled with organic materials, stabilise the soil and control erosion, showcasing how traditional ecological knowledge and modern solutions can merge to achieve sustainable outcomes.

“Like a fine wine, the project’s benefits and visual appeal will get better as it ages and the native plants properly establish.

“I’m proud of our team’s efforts and that this project now serves as a replicable model for similar projects across Queensland, for how we can address environmental challenges while fostering innovation, sustainability and community engagement.”