A petition has been launched by a concerned local resident calling for the restoration and regeneration of the Keith Boden Wetlands in Wavell Heights.
The petition, created by mother of two, Abbey, who has lived near the wetlands for six years, asks local authorities to take immediate steps to address the declining water quality and environmental damage at the site, which was initially constructed as a sediment basin.
“Ever since moving to the area, we would take daily walks past the wetlands and around Shaw Road Park,” Abbey said. “It used to be beautiful. There were loads of ducks and ducklings, several resident bearded dragons, dozens of turtles and many other birds, including even a black cockatoo on one occasion. It was so lovely to stop and watch the animals with my eldest boy when he was a toddler.
“About after the floods in 2022, there was a noticeable change in water quality and since then there have been multiple pollution events. The council dredged part of the pond but this didn’t seem to help much.”
A Call for Action
Brisbane City Council has posted signage in the area indicating that a wetland rehabilitation project is currently in the design and planning phase. The project is expected to focus on improving water quality through sediment removal and the replanting of wetland and ground cover plants. However, a response from Council indicated that funding for the full project has not yet been secured.
Abbey said she hoped the petition would encourage Council to prioritise the desilting and replanting and to address the scale of pollution.
“There are multiple impacts, not only our family walks, the birds, reptiles and fish that once lived there but also the downstream implications of having the pollution now run out into Moreton Bay,” she said.
She added that her son was sad there weren’t any turtles or ducklings anymore.
“He wants to understand why they are dying and if we can make their home nice again for them,” she said.
The petition has already surpassed the halfway mark toward reaching its goal of 1000 signatures.
View and sign the petition here.
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