A Whole-of-Catchment Stormwater Management Demonstration Project: Carrarra Catchment

Gold Coast, South East Queensland

Environmental Issues

The Carrara catchment, of the Nerang River system and Moreton Bay, is subject to environmental degradation including bank erosion, urban runoff, increased sediment loads and acid sulphate soils. Moreton Bay is suffering from seagrass and wetland loss, the intrusion of urbanisation into wetland areas, localised harmful algal blooms and loss of biodiversity.

Water Quality Management

A whole-of-catchment approach will be based on physical processes (trapping of gross solids, the sedimentation of fine materials, bioretention systems, oil/grease separator and wetlands), source control measures, multi-purpose retarding basins and stream naturalisation and restoration processes.

Resources 2000/2001 - 2001/2002

Urban Stormwater Initiative $1,017,500
Other Contributions $2,050,000
Total Project Costs $3,067,500

Longer Term Benefits

The overall aim of the project includes an anticipated improvement in the ecological health of waterways by the year 2020. The project will also serve as a demonstration site for the other 17 councils in the South East Queensland (SEQ) regional grouping, and other regions undergoing similar development pressures around the Australian coast.

Contacts

Allan Lush
(07) 5581 6473
Gold Coast City Council
PO Box 5042
GOLD COAST MC QLD 9729

Trevor Lloyd
(07) 3403 4205
South East Queensland Regional Water Quality Management Strategy
Level 8, MLC Bld, Cnr George & Adelaide Streets
BRISBANE QLD 4001