Recently, a collaborative team came together on K’gari to deliver an important piece of work - the installation of six new groundwater monitoring bores across the island.
Led by Burnett Mary Regional Group, the operation brought together Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, providing cultural oversight throughout the works, APOD Soil Testing, whose expertise in drilling monitoring wells proved integral to the project’s success, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, supporting on-ground delivery and site access.
Working side by side in often challenging conditions, the team successfully completed all six bores across strategically selected locations. These sites were carefully chosen to fill critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of K’gari’s groundwater systems.
The new bores will enable ongoing monitoring of groundwater levels and water quality, helping to build a clearer picture of how water moves through this unique sand island environment. This work has taken on added importance following the devastating 2020 wildfires on K’gari and increasing pressure on the island’s sensitive freshwater lake systems.
Through ongoing monitoring, the project will help understand the level of connectivity between groundwater and surface water features. This knowledge will play a key role in guiding future water use, supporting informed decision-making around water extraction for wildfire response while protecting fragile ecosystems.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, this project is being delivered by Burnett Mary Regional Group, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.