Bridgewater Creek Freecs

Bridgewater Creek is the only freshwater stream entering below the tidal zone of Norman Creek. Our creek rehabilitation work here borders netball courts, BBQ & playground facilities, off leash dog park and general open field areas.

Project Details

The headwaters of Bridgewater Creek start in Coorparoo Heights, and consist of four bushland gullies upstream of Majestic Park.

Background of the project

There is a 1907 Council plan which shows the original course of Bridgewater Creek, which consisted of linked deep pools, notably at Greens Gully. The mouth of Bridgewater Creek flowed into Norman Creek, at a point to the west of Coorparoo State Secondary College, near their current carpark. The mouth of the creek is currently located adjacent to Giffen Park (the Brisbane Lions training ground).

The first plantings were carried out in 1984 and 1986 in what was then the tidal section of the creek (in Wembley Park). Parts of the creek are piped underground, and back in 1998, Brisbane City Council hired a consulting group, Connell Wagner, to conduct a catchment study for the whole of Bridgewater Creek. One of its recommendations was for Council to consider a buy-back program to daylight (restore) the upstream section of the creek to supplement the existing stormwater system.

Current involvement

The bushcare group in this area is called Bridgewater Creek FREECS – Friends Re-establishing Environmental & Ecological Creek Systems. Students from the nearby Churchie school are involved as part of their curriculum activities. It has also involved corporate and community involvement, and attracted Federal Government and corporate funding.

N4C was awarded a State Government Grant through the Community Sustainability Action grant program. This enabled a major extension of plantings in the intertidal section of Bridgewater Creek at the northern end of Wembley Park, Coorparoo. This project involved removal of weeds, accumulated litter deposited over many years, and the planting of a high diversity of native tree species to form a riparian corridor for native wildlife. The aim was to develop a lowland rainforest of South East Queensland plant species. The aim is to achieve ecological enhancement, better waterway health and riparian restoration.

Future of the project

The aim of this project is to carry out riparian restoration of Bridgewater Creek through Wembley Park and if possible, right up to the source, which is above Majestic Park in bushland easments in Coorparoo, not far from the water reservoir tower. This would involve daylighting the creek, which means opening up sections which are currently piped underground.

Project contact details

Irregular working bees; contact Damien Madden on 3391 4235 or check our Facebook Page.