Creek filtration systems fact sheet
Water is central to Brisbane’s identity – the bay, river and local waterways are not only important
to the unique lifestyle that residents enjoy, they are also integral to the economic wellbeing of
Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Brisbane City Council has a range of initiatives to ensure Brisbane’s waterways are clean,
healthy and resilient ecosystems. One of these initiatives is installing innovative creek filtration
systems across the city.
Creek filtration systems
As part of the Lord Mayor’s Cleaner Waterways Initiative, Council is investing $2 million between
2013 and 2016 to install eight creek filtration systems in catchments across the city.
The creek filtration systems will be constructed across Brisbane’s urban waterways to help
improve waterway and bay health. The systems are designed to deliver an innovation that is
natural, effective and visually attractive.
How they work
Creek filtration systems decrease stormwater runoff by allowing the water to be distributed over a
wider area. The stormwater then soaks into the soil for use by plants. This process removes
sediment, nutrients and heavy metals via plant uptake, deposition and infiltration. Stormwater
then enters the creek cleaner, which helps to improve waterway and bay health.
The four measures of success
There are four measures of success that determine if a site is suitable for installing a creek
filtration system.
The sites need to cater for:
 low maintenance systems
 easy establishment
 improved waterway health
 improved visual appeal and social amenity of creeks or site.
Each system must be tailored to the unique characteristics of the creek and the local area. The
system must respect the way the surrounding land is used and the desires of the local
community.
Benefits to Brisbane waterways
The creek filtration systems are being trialled over four catchments in Brisbane, which will see a
range of benefits such as:
 improved water quality
 decreased total stormwater runoff and improved flow regimes
 productive vegetation and increased carbon absorption
 improved social amenity
 increased shade.
What you can do to help keep our waterways healthy
We all live within a creek catchment where water is collected from our homes, yards and streets
and discharged into a waterway via stormwater drains. What you do around your home and in
your garden and street makes a difference to the health of our creeks, river and bay.
There are many things that you can do to help keep our waterways healthy.
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Wash your car with care; keep suds out of the drain. Use a microfibre cleaning cloth and
water, wash your car on the grass or go to a car wash facility.
Pick up after your dog. You will find dog waste bags and bins in every dog off-leash area.
Keep chemicals out of the drain and dispose of paints, oils and other chemicals safely at a
Council transfer station.
Make sure rubbish goes in the bin. Litter often ends up in waterways. It looks ugly and can
harm wildlife.
Put garden waste to good use. Grass clippings and garden waste can be re-used as
compost, or you can use a Council green waste bin at home.
Use fertilisers and garden chemicals sparingly. If you use chemicals in your garden, avoid
runoff and sprays going into drains. Use hose-on fertilisers and apply chemicals in dry,
still weather so the spray doesn’t get carried on the wind.
Keep your fish in tanks. If you let your aquarium fish free in a waterway, they can harm
native fish and habitat.
For more information on the creek filtration systems trial, contact Council on (07) 3403 8888 or
visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au