Overview

Biodiversity Australia is supporting a large-scale river creek restoration initiative in the Lockyer Valley, Southeast Queensland, focused on improving the health and resilience of one of the region’s key creek systems.
Delivered by Lockyer Valley Regional Council, with funding from Resilient Rivers SEQ, and in consultation with communities and Traditional Custodians, the project involves restoring degraded creek banks, improving ecological stability, and creating accessible green spaces along the creek corridor.
Over a multi-year program, the project will combine practical land management techniques with long-term ecological planning, with the goal of restoring the river system to a more stable and functional condition.

The Challenge

Sections of the Lockyer Valley creek system have experienced ongoing impacts from:
• erosion and unstable riverbanks
• invasive species
• storm events and altered hydrology
• general landscape degradation
These pressures have reduced the river’s ability to function as a healthy ecological corridor, affecting water quality, habitat condition and long-term stability.
The project also required coordination across multiple councils and land managers, as well as the integration of cultural values and Indigenous knowledge into restoration planning.

Our Response

Biodiversity Australia has been contracted to deliver on ground works to support weed control and revegetation. This will contribute to the development and delivery of a creek rejuvenation program that combines ecological restoration with community and cultural engagement.
Key components of the project include:
• stabilisation and reshaping of degraded creek beds to reduce erosion and sediment movement
• re-establishment of locally appropriate native vegetation to support soil stability and habitat outcomes
• restoration of riparian zones to improve ecological connectivity and waterway health
• conversion of degraded areas into accessible parklands for community use
Traditional Custodian engagement has been initiated and is ongoing. This is part of a bigger effort to connect and work with the Yuggera Ugarapul People.
The project also brings together multiple councils in a coordinated effort, recognising that river systems extend beyond administrative boundaries and require a unified, landscape-scale approach.

Results to Date

The project is currently in the early stages of delivery, with planning, site preparation and initial works underway.
Over the coming months, the program will progress through staged restoration, planting, monitoring and maintenance, with outcomes expected to develop progressively as vegetation establishes and riverbank stability improves.

Why the Work Matters

This project demonstrates how collaborative, landscape-scale restoration can deliver both environmental and community outcomes.
By stabilising riverbanks and restoring native vegetation, the program will support:
• improved water quality and reduced sedimentation
• enhanced habitat for native species
• increased resilience to future flood events
Equally important is the integration of community use and cultural knowledge, ensuring the river corridor is not only ecologically functional, but also a space that connects people back to the landscape.
The Lockyer Valley restoration program highlights what can be achieved when councils, communities and Traditional Owners work together to support long-term care for Country.