The Mary River Streambank Rehabilitation Project, has officially completed its construction phase, with assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). This initiative, jointly delivered by the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC), and Alluvium Consulting, responded to severe environmental damage caused by multiple flood events during the 2021–2022 severe weather season. With over 1,800 mm of rainfall and the highest flood peak in Gympie since 1893, the need for restoration was urgent.
Rebuilding a Vital River System
The Mary River is not just a waterway—it’s a lifeline for biodiversity, agriculture, and communities. Sections of the catchment are recognised as critical habitat for the endangered Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) and Mary River Cod (Maccullochella mariensis). Over the decades, vegetation clearing, bank degradation, and floodplain modification such as sand mining have left this iconic river highly vulnerable to extreme events.
To help restore its function and resilience, the DRFA-funded works focused on stabilising actively eroding streambanks through science-led, nature-based solutions.
What We Achieved
Supported by the Queensland and Australian Governments, the consortium led by BMRG, including the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee and Alluvium Consulting, achieved the following:
- 1,460 metres of streambank rehabilitated
- 2,784 t of Fine Sediment Saved per annum
- 2,340 piles installed across 67 pile fields
- 240 t of rock placed for toe protection
- 60 root balls installed to support aquatic structure
- 33,300 native seedlings planted
- 8–12 months of monitoring and maintenance programmed to ensure establishment success
These efforts reduce erosion, enhance riparian habitats, and protect water quality. The newly reprofiled banks, reinforced and vegetated with native species, now offer greater resistance to future floods, re-establishing natural ecological functions.
Looking Ahead
All sites will undergo an 8-month to 1-year maintenance period, involving monitoring vegetation establishment, managing weeds, and performing any necessary remedial work to ensure long-term success.
This project showcases how effective flood recovery can repair today's damage while building resilience for tomorrow. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we are creating a sustainable future for the Mary River and its communities.
Assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Delivered in partnership with the Burnett Mary Regional Group.
