GBRF STREAMBANK EROSION DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, FITZROY RIVER, QLD Catchment Solutions, 2021 – 2022
Neilly Group were a project partner with Catchment Solutions to deliver the detail design of all of Catchment Solutions’ gully and streambank erosion remediation sites that were funded under their Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) funding package in the Fitzroy region. Neilly Group undertook the design of a bank battering, log fillet and revegetation site that is located immediately downstream of the city of Rockhampton within the tidal zone of the Fitzroy River. Neilly Group also successfully tendered for the construction of the works, with the construction of the site being completed within the last week.
The site presented many challenges with asbestos present in an historical building waste dump located within the riverbank and adjacent floodplain, the presence of Fairy Martins whose nests within the riverbank could not be disturbed, the presence of marine plants that could not be impacted upon by the works and the ever-present danger of large crocodiles lurking in the Fitzroy River. Overall, the site consisted of the excavation of 13,000 m3 of riverbank material to form a stable bank batter for revegetation works and the installation of 53 log fillets to reduce the erosion risk from boat wash and flow events and provide a haven for mangroves to be planted and naturally recruited between the log fillets and the top of the riverbank. The photographs shown below are of the site immediately after completion of construction this week, with revegetation works still to be carried out.
