Bushland Beach Drain Naturalisation Project

Project Overview

Council is undertaking works to transform the Bushland Beach channel into a picturesque living waterway that enhances the aesthetic of the area and benefits both the community and the natural environment, following residents’ concerns over the existing open drain adjacent to Peggy Banfield Park.

Co-designed by residents through community consultation, the design provides for a natural self-regulating ecosystem within the channel through the installation of ponds and a meandering rocky creek bed, integration with existing stormwater pipe inlets and provision for sediment capture and clean-out, which will improve the quality of the water that flows to the Great Barrier Reef.

The natural waterway is designed in such a way that minimal maintenance is required, whilst providing numerous benefits, such as:

• improved biodiversity with native vegetation that shades out unwanted plants and weeds,
• natural mosquito control through the provision of a habitat for mosquito predators,
• soil amelioration, which will reduce erosion, aid water penetration, promote plant growth and improved soil quality to support native vegetation and trees which will in turn stabilise the banks,
• increased cross-sectional capacity of the channel,
• enhanced aesthetic - a channel that is reimagined as a living waterway rather than an urban drain,
• improved water quality through the inclusion of ponds designed to capture sediment.

The project will leverage funding received from the Queensland Government as part of the Cleaner Wastewater Initiative project under the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.

Project Schedule

Works commence: Wednesday 24 May 2023
Project completion: November 2023

The works involve:

• removal of two pedestrian bridges with pedestrian detour in place.
• closure of the section of footpath adjacent to the open drain for the duration of the works
• site office and laydown area located in the unused AFL field
• heavy machinery and associated noise and dust to surrounding areas.

Changes to the drain at Bushland Beach

A project to re-vegetate a major drain corridor in Bushland Beach to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef is proposed.

Townsville City Council is looking for community input on the project design through Have Your Say Townsville and in-person consultation sessions.

This Bushland Beach naturalisation project has been partially funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Bohle River Water Quality Offset Roadmap, which also includes a passively watered street tree project in Heatley to be completed by November 2022. 

Townsville City Council is working to further improve the quality of the water that flows to the Great Barrier Reef.

Naturalising the drain at Bushland Beach offers an opportunity to improve the health of water entering the Bohle River from the surrounding area.

At the same time, shade and amenity for residents can be improved, and better integration with Peggy Banfield Park can be considered.

Update

A video update on the project has been added to this page.

Here, you can view a presentation on the feedback we have received from the community, and how this is helping us with our design and planning for the Bushland Beach Naturalisation project. 

Please check the video link found on this page for an update from Ben Walker, Senior Environmental Scientist from E2 Design Lab- engaged by Council to help deliver this exciting project. 

We have also added an update in the document section- Consultation Feedback- that covers off on what the community has told us so far.

Please check this out in the Document Section.

How can you get involved?

We invite the community to learn more about the project, and share your experiences with the existing drain. Your contributions and concerns will help inform the design of the new drain.

Have your say by reviewing the attached information and completing the feedback form found on this page.

Consultation will close on Friday December 3rd. 

This project was funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Cleaner Wastewater Initiative project under the

Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.