Washpool Creek Master Plan (completed)

Council engaged Tract Consultants to work with the community and key stakeholders to help define a future vision for Washpool Creek and its major tributaries, Baldwin Creek and the Washpool Creek No. 2 Channel.

Where is Washpool Creek?

Washpool Creek is a tributary of Bundaberg Creek on the southern side of the Burnett River. It is situated within some of the oldest suburbs of Bundaberg, being Norville, Walkervale and Bundaberg South. Washpool Creek’s highly urbanised catchment is ~6.54km² in size and its main flow path is ~4.1km in length.

History of Washpool Creek – A Snapshot

The Washpool Creek catchment has seen significant change since European settlement. Substantial watershed areas have been cleared up to (and often including) riparian corridors in efforts to maximise yield. Furthermore, since the mid to late 20th century, urban development has seen many sections of Washpool Creek ‘upgraded’ from a natural creek to a concrete channel in efforts to maximise conveyance and developable land.

Why did Council do this Master Plan?

Council completed a condition assessment of the concrete channels along the entire length of Washpool Creek and its major tributaries. The outcomes from this assessment indicated that most of these concrete channels showed signs of moderate to significant deterioration and major replacement is likely required within the next 10 to 20 years.

Furthermore, numerous properties along these creek tributaries are exposed to a level of flood risk during localised storm events.

The need to address flood risk and replace deteriorating concrete channels presented Council and the community with an opportunity. As part of our asset renewal planning, we need to determine whether we replace the concrete channels like-for-like or do something different for the future.

To align with Council’s strategic intent, Washpool Creek needs to be considered as more than just a concrete channel that conveys stormwater. Urban creeks can offer significant value-added benefits to the community moving forward. Council wants to see this potential realised by proactively planning for a healthy waterway that delivers increased social and environmental benefits, flood risk reduction, and improved sustainability and resilience.

In developing the Master Plan, Council sought community input to help us understand the history of Washpool Creek together with the key values, constraints, and opportunities for these creek corridors. Your ideas and local knowledge were vitally important in shaping the outcomes of the Master Plan, including a list of recommended actions.

How to find out more

You can find out more by contacting the Project Team at engineering@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.