The Brisbane River – The Main Source of Water for the Capital City
Brisbane River runs through the heart of Queensland’s capital city and plays an integral role in life here, creating many differences among old and new cultures.
John Oxley dubbed the river after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales at that time. He explored it all the way down to Breakfast Creek.
Table of Contents
Origin
The Brisbane River serves as Australia’s primary water source, providing drinking water to over 2.2 million people living on its driest continent. While flooding events still occur occasionally, their frequency and size has decreased since Wivenhoe Dam’s construction. Floodwater deposits sediment into sand banks and shoals that make navigating ships challenging – something which dredging of river bottom has helped alleviate.
The river runs through the heart of the city, dividing neighborhoods and districts while serving as a key public transport artery – 16 “city cats” shuttle commuters between city centre and other parts of town via its waters.
The Brisbane River is fed by two main sources of nourishment; breakfast creek, Moggill Creek and Stanley Creek on its northern bank; Bulimba Creek, Oxley Creek Norman Creek Bremer River Lockyer River on its southern bank as well as other small tributaries. There are numerous smaller feeder streams as well.
Flooding
Flooding is an inherent part of nature, and due to its winding course through urban areas, the Brisbane River periodically overflows its banks. Since European settlement, several significant flood events have taken place, most notably one occurring on January 1974 when its peak reached 5.45 meters; since then however, Wivenhoe Dam has substantially reduced both frequency and size of flooding events.
Flood impacts along the Brisbane River have historically varied spatially along its path and diminished with elevation, meaning that suburbs with lower altitudes were more vulnerable to flooding and experienced greater economic losses than those at higher altitudes.
Noteworthy is also the Brisbane River’s natural ecosystems along its banks, such as mangroves, salt marshes, tea tree swamps and open forests that can provide essential environmental services and should be taken into consideration when making land-use planning decisions.
Ports
Brisbane River is an important maritime hub, boasting many wharves along its waters that offer convenient boat mooring facilities for shipping purposes. A cruise along its waters makes for a memorable sightseeing adventure – you’ll get to take in views of Brisbane’s bridges and landmarks from their perspective!
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd operates Australia’s world-class port under a long-term lease from the Queensland government. As its primary responsibility, PBPL ensures safe navigational channels remain open to business activity at this world-renowned port in Brisbane.
The Brisbane River serves as an estuary, meaning it contains both fresh and salt water. It flows into Moreton Bay through a floodplain with occasional issues with ships due to mud or sand build-up, although dredging has significantly decreased this problem. Dredging has also reduced frequency issues; additionally, fishing enthusiasts find its calm waters and diversity of marine life ideal for boat fishing; numerous fish species like bream and barramundi can often be caught here!
Development
Breakfast Creek, Moggill Creek, Stanley River, Norman Creek and Oxley Creek all contribute significantly to the Brisbane River; their lower reaches also receive run-off from Linville Moore Toogoolawah as well as Jindalee Indooroopilly areas in its western reach.
The Brisbane River floods frequently in its northern reaches and has caused catastrophic disasters in 1893 and 1974. Wivenhoe Dam has significantly decreased the frequency and size of floods since construction, however its estuary is in poor condition due to nutrients, chemicals, pesticides, bacteria and other pollutants washing in from surrounding lands.
Waterfront Brisbane will become an unparalleled business and tourist destination, and Bennett+Bennett are providing tenure advice as well as conducting cadastral surveys to ensure its design adheres to a clear cadastral framework that will facilitate future management.
