Bennett raises Moneys Creek environment concerns in parliament

It’s one of the Bundaberg region’s most loved coastal spots, but persistent fish kills and water quality concerns have risen once again - and we are no closer to a solution.

Moneys Creek has been no stranger to fish kills in recent history.

It was once the stuff of postcards, the pristine blue waters of Moneys Creek attracting families to swim in its cool waters.

But persistent issues with water quality have made the coastal attraction in Bargara, near Bundaberg, more of a political hot potato than piping hot destination.

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The issues of water pollution and fish kills are reigniting headlines once again following a question in parliament from Burnett MP Stephen Bennett to the state’s environment minister Meaghan Scanlon.

Mr Bennett, who previously pledged $300,000 to cleaning up the algae-afflicted causeway, has questioned Ms Scanlon on whether any funding would be made available to help improve water quality.

Ms Scanlon issued a brief and scathing response to Mr Bennett, saying he was barking up the wrong tree.

“The member knows that this is a matter for council,” she said.

“Instead of trying to score cheap political points on things all the time, maybe he should focus his attention on the responsible level of government.”

An old image of Moneys Creek shows the once pristine blue waters.

Mr Bennett said the waterway experienced hundreds of fish deaths last month, bringing with it a “horrific sight and stench”.

The MP said the coastal Bargara community was full of angst around the issue.

“This issue has been ignored for decades, it’s been a long and drawn-out disaster that needs to end,” he said.

“To date, the State Labor Government has passed the buck and placed blame on other levels of government and private enterprise.”

Mr Bennett had previously put the question to the former natural resources minister Anthony Lynham in 2020.

At the time, Mr Bennett questioned if the government would fund a clean-up, but Dr Lynham responded that “water quality issues in Moneys Creek are largely the result of urban planning decisions” which he said were outside of his department‘s scope.

Dr Lynham told Mr Bennett that financial investment was unlikely to impact water quality, and that the government had given $62,500 to the Burnett Mary Regional Group in 2018 to undertake a feasibility study into works that could be undertaken.

He said BMRG had found the issue of urban planning to be the cause, that agricultural practices in the upper catchments were generally sound and that investments in improvements would not impact water quality.

But Mr Bennett said he believed funding could make a difference.

“I made a commitment during the last election that the LNP would invest $300,000 towards its rehabilitation,” he said.

“Sadly, the state Labor government failed to honour this commitment.

“I acknowledge it’s a detailed and difficult issue, but not doing anything is simply not good enough.”

Moneys Creek at Bargara is one of the region’s most popular swimming spots, but ongoing water quality issues and fish kills have turned locals and visitors off.

Moneys Creek has had a long and complicated history, with blame for its condition often deflected among various political tiers and private entities.

In 2019, the Bargara Golf Club, which owns the land, issued a statement labelling the creek an “environmental embarrassment”, blaming limited tidal flushes and calling for government help.

The golf club has previously stated it believed it did not cause the issue, and had asked for state or federal funds to dredge the waterway.

A story by this publication in 2019 sought to get to the bottom of where responsibility sits in relation to the waterway.

The golf club maintained its stance on seeking government funding, while the council called for state involvement.

Fish kills and murky water are now common, especially in the summer months.

Bundaberg Regional Council was contacted for comment in the wake of Ms Scanlon’s comments.