Seagrass is being planted near the Sunshine Coast in an effort to improve the quality of waterways.
Water supplier Unitywater has started installing seagrass at seven sites within and near the Moreton Bay Marine Park, including at Bells Creek and Coochin Creek, to determine its effectiveness in reducing nutrient levels that enter the local waterways.
The project aims to find solutions to restoring the threatened plant habitat and to provide essential food, shelter and nursery for green turtles, fish and other local fauna, while measuring the plants’ ability to absorb and process nutrients.
Unitywater executive manager sustainable infrastructure solutions Mike Basterfield said the project was expected to contribute to the organisation’s sustainability goal of net zero nutrients to waterways by 2040.
“As we have infrastructure in, underneath and near marine environments, we have a responsibility to maintain natural habitats and a commitment to enhancing the waterways in our region,” he said.
“The trial will measure seagrass’ ability to absorb and process nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in varying marine sites across Moreton Bay and one in Bells Creek.
“The trial follows the success of other nature-based initiatives we’ve implemented, including our Caboolture River Nutrient Offset Project, which has diverted almost 1900kg of nutrients from waterways to date.”
The project was born from an idea presented by a Unitywater project engineer in 2023 as part of an annual ‘Innovation Challenge’, which asked employees to submit a solution or idea to positively contribute to waterways across Unitywater’s service region.
Since its conception, the project has been designed and undertaken by the water utility’s ‘Graduate Development Program’ cohort, who deliver a ‘Team Innovation Project’ during their time in the two-year program.
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The initiative is supported by University of the Sunshine Coast, where the research expertise of Dr Christopher Henderson will contribute to the project and provide a foundation for scientific studies at the University.
“Seagrasses in Moreton Bay are under threat from a range of disturbances, so identifying approaches that can be effective in restoring the habitat in the region is important for fish habitat and nutrient reduction,” he said.
The seagrass meadows will be installed at Beachmere, Bells Creek, Toorbul, Scarborough, Caboolture River, Coochin Creek and southern Bribie Island, with all planting due for completion in the first half of 2025.
