Read about a great project designed to improve the health of Kedron Brook by reducing streambank erosion, restoring riparian vegetation, and improving the resilience of the waterway to future flooding events.

		Flood resilience Re-establishing native vegetation in riparian areas increases the resilience of waterways to major floods.
		Supporting biodiversity and ecosystems Adding valuable and native vegetation will enhance habitat for endangered or vulnerable wildlife near the proposed site.
		Community and stakeholders’ involvement Collaboration between all levels of government, key stakeholders, and local communities is key to responding to flood events and building resilience.

The recent floods in 2022 wreaked havoc on Kedron Brook, causing significant riverbank erosion that not only threatens the ongoing stability of the area, but also jeopardised its environmental health.

The Kedron Brook Flood Recovery project aims to improve waterway health and flood resilience by reducing streambank erosion, restoring riparian vegetation and supporting healthy biodiversity and ecosystems.

The project reach along Kedron Brook comprises a 2km heavily urbanised stretch of the waterway, between Dawson Parade and Osborne Road in the suburbs of Keperra, Mitchelton, Everton Hills, Everton Park and Arana Hills.

The project area is close to high value vegetation and potential habitat for endangered or vulnerable wildlife species, as well as schools, sporting clubs, health care facilities, and areas of community recreation, including playgrounds, parks and walking paths.

Multiple stages building upon the previous one

Healthy Land & Water has been appointed project manager for this initiative through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Environmental Recovery Program, which is managed by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (the Department).

The project has been divided into four potential stages*, each building upon the previous one as shown in the diagram below:

*Each stage is dependent on the previous stage. Should the project progress beyond Stage 1, all stages of the project are expected to be delivered by 30 June 2026.

Stage 1 was recently completed and focussed on technical investigations and key stakeholder and resident engagement, and the outcomes are under evaluation by the Department.

Stage 1 investigations are complete!

Stage 1 investigations included:

• Engagement with key stakeholders such as councils and residents.
• Environmental assessments such as ecological surveys to identify environmental values.
• Technical work including flood modelling, LiDAR and drone imagery and preliminary geomorphological reviews of the entire Kedron Brook catchment.

Technical investigations, conducted by contracted experts, identified priority areas for rehabilitation works based on factors such as:

• Erosion risk.
• Historic creek alignments.
• Geomorphology and hydrological factors.
• Constructability of on-ground interventions.

Ecological assessments identified opportunities for ecological enhancement, gave guidance for permitting and approvals, and provided crucial recommendations for habitat improvement, fish passage, and improving natural asset resilience, emphasising the importance of community involvement and education to ensure longevity in project outcomes.

Cultural heritage investigations have also been undertaken and engagement of First Nations will form part of all future stages of the project, to ensure the cultural values of the area are preserved and enhanced.

The outcomes of Stage 1 identified key areas of the reach for intervention.

Results from technical investigations and engagement activities will inform the next stages of the program including the scope and detailed design of future potential works, and the impact of river rehabilitation in an urban environment.

The near future

All Stage 1 reporting has now been submitted to the Department, who will determine whether the project will progress to the next stage.

Stage 2 would progress the detailed design for high priority sites (identified in Stage 1) and seek opportunities for improved environmental outcomes to assist the natural process of the Brook and enhance green corridors.

Building on the strong legacy of the reach, community engagement during this phase will be a key focus. There is some great opportunities for environmental education to support private environment recovery works while enhancing community involvement.

Benefits go beyond flood recovery

The anticipated benefits of the project extend beyond its main scope and include valuable revegetation which will enhance habitat for endangered or vulnerable wildlife near the project area. The aim is to support and increase biodiversity and ecosystems in the vicinity and beyond.

The project design will be driven by technical engineering and geotechnical requirements.

Our aim is to deliver an inclusive, site-driven approach that aligns best practice urban water management principles with community social values to provide multiple benefits to the environment and community.

Our methodology prioritises integrated, nature-driven design solutions, that consider all elements of the water cycle and support connections between people, water, and nature.

In addition, this initiative also provides the opportunity to pilot an improved process for collaboration between all levels of government, key stakeholders, and local communities in responding to flood events and building resilience within urban waterways.

Check out the project page to find out more and stay updated on the progress.

This project is supported by Healthy Land & Water, with assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).