On-ground rehabilitation works along the Kolan River are expected to deliver long-term benefits to the environment and improve farm productivity.

Burnett Mary Regional Group led a three-year program in partnership with the landholder, Bundaberg Sugar, to stabilise riverbank erosion, revegetate the banks and restore habitat.

The Integrated Habitat Restoration for the Discovery Coast project was funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

One of the key objectives was to reduce sediment flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

The final works in April involved planting native species, undertaken by staff from Gidarjil Development Corporation and GWT Earthmoving.

“This work is very important for both the preservation of the natural value of the Kolan and the repair of native country and the culturally important sites within it,” said Gidarjil’s Ranger Coordinator Brendan Fletcher.

“We want to return the river to its most natural condition; that’s how it will continue to support threatened habitats.”

BMRG Project Manager Andrew Treloar said the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre at CQUniversity had recently completed a water quality report, which provides important baseline data for future monitoring.

“These works are estimated to prevent more than 7000 tonnes of sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef each year,” he said.

“The river bank has been restored from a vertical drop to its natural state through a gradual rise from mangroves to saltmarsh grasses and native vegetation.

“This is good for fish and fauna as well as river health, soils and farming.”

A separate report looked at water quality following the removal of illegally built causeways at Rodds Peninsula near Agnes Water in the Baffle Creek catchment.

The report found: “Some evidence was seen for an increase in mangrove seedling and sapling density between surveys.”

Mr Treloar said the data will be useful to monitor the impact of restoration works on water quality and river health over the longer term.