Council reveals plan to cut water pollution from rubbish dump run- off
River fix to cost $ 2.9m
A $ 2.9 million project is under way to stabilise an eroded section of the Ross River near Bicentennial Park to prevent more waste flowing from an old landfill site into the waterway.
The work will reinforce a 410m bend in the river where erosion has sheared the riverbank, exposing buried rubbish and creating a public safety risk for park users. Townsville City Council crews will reinforce the damaged riverbank with staged terracing using rocks, and construct a 5m berm at water level to support regeneration of mangroves.
Council’s Infrastructure Committee chairman Trevor Roberts said exhaustive investigations had been carried out to design a permanent engineering and environmental fix.
Cr Roberts said the area of river bank once housed car bodies, metal and possibly remnants of asbestos dumped after Cyclone Althea in 1971.
“Unfortunately, we now have to fix a serious erosion issue that is a direct result of a decision in the 1970s to locate the city’s tip on the banks of the river,” Cr Roberts said.
“Erosion has accelerated in a number of big wet seasons, cutting a steep drop- off along the bank and exposing and dislodging hard rubbish.
“The council works are essential to prevent further damage and environmental risk.”
An estimated 11,000cu m of graded rock, 2500cu m of armour rock, and 6300cu m of imported clay are expected to be used in the construction of the terraced rock walls and permeable clay liner inforce the riverbank.
The platform at the base of the wall will also be constructed in a way to encourage revegetation of mangroves.
Excavation work started last week and the project is expected to be completed by November, weather permitting.
Cr Colleen Doyle, who represents the area near Bicentennial Park, said feedback from local residents and those with environmental interests had been positive for the project.
“I grew up in this area so ob-
to
re- viously it’s great to see that we are getting back to what it once was,” Cr Doyle said.
“We need to repair what has happened over the last couple of decades.
“The park is already being used for some sporting clubs … it will be one of those quiet spots for the community to enjoy just as much.”
Deputy Mayor Vern Veitch said the project was good value for money for ratepayers because it would prevent run- off into the river, Cleveland Bay and the Great Barrier Reef.