The region features numerous freshwater and marine habitats that provide many functions, such as fish breeding grounds, migratory and threatened species habitat, water quality improvement, beach and bank stabilisation, clean air and scenic amenity that contribute to the wellbeing of our communities.

Moreton Bay’s coastline consists of beaches, canals and estuary areas and the region has three major river systems and many smaller creeks and catchments. While the Stanley River flows inland to a significant water storage dam, the Pine River, and the Caboolture River and a number of smaller creeks flow into Moreton Bay. Large areas of Moreton Bay are protected and recognised as wetlands of international significance and as Queensland State Marine National Parks. There are over 2,600 km of streams and waterways mapped by Council within the region. Managing the health of our rivers, streams and the water that flows into them is important for the overall health of Moreton Bay.

Numerous wetlands are located within the Moreton Bay region including both freshwater and marine habitats. Over 9,000 hectares of the Moreton Bay region’s coastal areas including the Pumicestone Passage are recognised as a Ramsar wetland of international significance for migratory shorebirds. Bribie Island wetland areas, dominated by Melaleuca tree species (Paperbark) and Eucalyptus tree species tree as well as heath vegetation, have also been recognised as nationally important wetlands.

Moreton Bay provides important feeding areas for several nationally threatened wildlife species, such as the green turtle, hawksbill turtle and loggerhead turtle, as well as the internationally vulnerable dugong. The area is also home to many migratory birds that are protected by international conservation agreements.

The natural beauty of the Bay attracts many recreational visitors. Our coastline and waterways are a major tourism drawcard, which contributes to the region’s economy. These areas provide for recreational activities such as bush walking, bird watching, four-wheel driving, camping and kayaking. In 2018/19 tourism brought 4.7 million visitors who spent $1.1 billion in the Region, supporting 5,313 jobs. As our population grows and visitor numbers increase, it will be important that residents and visitors interact with the Bay in a sustainable way, ensuring its health for future generations.

A changing climate will result in altered rainfall patterns (in terms of duration and quantity), extreme weather events, sea level rise and rising temperatures, which will affect the health and function of our waterways and wetlands. These impacts will be compounded by existing pressures on water supply from infrastructure, agricultural and urban uses.

Waterway vegetation, streams and wetlands provide important processes to help communities adapt to a changing climate and respond to its impacts. These include cooling the environment, retaining soil moisture during drought periods and reducing the severity of flood flow impacts on community infrastructure and businesses as well as slowing and modifying the impact of sea level rise and encroachment on inland landscapes. There is also increasing recognition of the role that wetlands and waterways play in supporting biodiversity including fish habitat, storing carbon and providing a refuge for wildlife during drought.

• Trash racks and gross pollutant traps reduce litter entering our waterways.
• We maintain stormwater infrastructure, such as pipes, channels and culverts, so the drainage system performs as intended.
• Coastal assets, such as such as jetties, pontoons and boat ramps ensure safe access to coastal water.
• Beach nourishment at Woorim reduces erosion risks and protects dunes for turtle nesting.
• Seawall repairs at Bongaree Beach and Toorbul use structures and costal vegetation to protect the shoreline.
• Water quality monitoring and aeration at Beachmere Lake reduces the risk of fish kills.
• Community Bushcare programs on coastal dune and upstream riparian areas.
• Local clean up activities (eg Clean Up Australian Day).
• Council’s Education and Engagement Program targeting coastal areas.
• Comprehensive network planning for stormwater quality infrastructure, including actions aimed at sustainable nutrient (from runoff) targets for waterways.
• Total Water Cycle Management Plan project review and update (2020-2022) enables strategies and actions to achieve the vision for water cycle outcomes and aligns land use planning and sustainable water management considerations.

• Protect, maintain and manage creeks, waterways and wetlands as natural systems so they are healthy, thriving and resilient to the impacts of climate change.
• Improve land management practices in the region’s catchments to restore the quality and quantity of water in our waterways to meet the needs of the environment and community.
• Integrate consideration of ecological values and ecosystem services (eg the functions that benefit the community like flood defence and bank stabilisation) of waterway corridors, wetlands and riparian areas into management decisions that affect waterway protection, restoration and enhancement.
• Facilitate effective partnerships between public and private landholders, other levels of government, Traditional Custodians, community organisations and Council to facilitate integrated catchment and coastal management including restoration, protection and enhancement of environmental values.

• Support the ongoing survival of key terrestrial and marine species that use Moreton Bay and its coastal areas (particularly those already under threat) by considering how management decisions impact their distribution, habitat and life-cycle requirements.
• Support protection of instream and wetland habitats and aquatic biodiversity through:
  • improvements to their identification
  • water quality
  • riparian area restoration and management
  • minimising modifications to banks and channels
  • removing artificial impediments to fish movement.
• Ensure that creeks and waterway corridors are protected and maintained as natural systems, as important links to and between regional and local-scale corridors and natural areas.
• Recognise that creeks and waterway corridors are places of significant cultural value for Traditional Custodians and those values are to be protected and respected.
• Consider the extent of ecosystem changes anticipated due to a warming climate in decision-making and planning for coastal communities.
• Coastal ecosystems are managed to preserve their protective and ecological benefit to the region’s coastline.
• Water sensitive cities principles are incorporated into total water cycle management planning which effectively integrates land use planning and sustainable water management considerations.
• Prioritise improvements to water quality in creeks and waterways through initiatives and partnerships which minimise pollution caused by runoff from urban and rural environments.
• Support litter prevention awareness and clean-up programs to avoid pollution of waterway, coastal and marine environments and impacts on marine life.