Waterways in the Scenic Rim have continued to improve while those in the greater Ipswich area are only getting worse. 

That’s according to the 2020 Healthy Land and Water Report Card, released earlier this month.

The Lockyer was the lowest ranked of all the catchments in the South East, with a score of D minus.

The Bremer was marginally better, though also among the worst, scoring a D. 

The decline was fairly consistent among western catchments, with the Stanley proving the only exception, improving from a B- to a B.

This was largely due to lower than average rainfall, the report found.

The Stanley was able to buck the trend in part due to receiving more rain, but also because the “retention of freshwater wetland habitats” and “proportionally better riverbank vegetation”.

In the Scenic Rim, the Albert got a B- and the Logan a C+. 

“The Logan (C to C+) and Albert (low B- to high B-) catchments have improved consistently over the past two years, underpinned by improvements in freshwater condition,” the report found. 

“However, the estuaries remain in fair condition due to increases in nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen).”

Principal research fellow with the Australian Rivers Institute, Mark Kennard, was involved in establishing the report card at the start of the century. 

The Griffith University academic said the report should not be used to make year by year assessments, but to evaluate long-term trends. 

He said that the last three decades had brought increased pressure on already degraded waterways. 

“The population in South East Queensland has certainly increased and what comes with that is further pressures on the natural environment, further demand for water, intensification of agriculture and more clearing,” he said.

“On top of that is a dried climate … our rivers are experiencing longer dry periods.

“All of that is putting increasing pressure on our native flora and fauna.”

On the other hand, he said the same period had witnessed greater awareness of the challenges our waterways face and the need to take action.

He said that no river system should be written off, but that restoration efforts must be targeted and long term.

“I do think the Lockyer Creek, for example, is worth investing money and effort into … because it propagates negative impacts downstream,” he said. 

“Those sediment and nutrients run into the Brisbane system and increase the cost of water treatment.” 

Rehabilitation of waterways was a key focus for a raft of recent Scenic Rim Regional Council environmental grants.

Mayor Greg Christensen said tackling weeds was one of the priorities of council in its efforts to protect and enhance Scenic Rim waterways.

“Weed species pose many threats to our productive landscapes and natural areas,” he said.

“For example, the introduction of Cats Claw creeper vine and Chinese Celtis has dramatically changed parts of our riverine landscapes.

“By competing for space and smothering native species, these invasive weeds contribute to the loss of valuable topsoil, reduce the productivity of agricultural land and negatively impact biodiversity.”

The Albert catchment has improved from a C- in 2015 and is now nudging an A rating.

Dr Kennard said catchment management projects could take 10 years or more to have an impact.