The Greens want the Brisbane River to be used at the Olympics

The Greens want to spend $6m on an amitious plan to have people swimming in the Brisbane River by 2032. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queenslanders could be swimming in the Brown Snake by 2032 under an ambitious multimillion-dollar plan by Greens lord mayor hopeful Jonathan Sriranganathan.

The former Gabba councillor wants to invest $6m over four years to improve the Brisbane River’s water quality and cleanliness so local residents and international visitors can swim in it by the time the Olympics arrive.

The cash would go towards creek bank revegetation, increased enforcement of erosion and sediment control measures on construction sites, and developing a river clean-up plan.

“This is definitely just a start,” Mr Sriranganathan said.

“It definitely is a bold and ambitious vision, but it’s also entirely achievable.

“But for it to be achievable in an eight-year window, all of the key stakeholders will have to get on board.

“This includes other regional councils – for example, Ipswich and Toowoomba – and major landholders further up the river, as well as the state government.”

Councillor Jonathan Sri is hoping to clean up the Brisbane River enough to be able to swim in it again, Cr Sri is pictured with the original steps to the Mowbray Park swimming enclosure Picture AAP/David Clark

Mr Sriranganathan said more biofiltration systems would be needed to capture more of the oil and other pollutants that run off roads, and at a council level there would need to be a crackdown on sediment run-off from sites run by developers and construction companies.

“What we’re talking about is starting the process and really saying to Brisbane residents: ‘Let’s dream a little bigger’,” Mr Sriranganathan said.

“The river would never be blue, it is an estuarine river so it is probably still going to have a brown tinge to it, but it would be a lot cleaner, and safer to swim in.”

Mr Sriranganathan referenced the swimming enclosures which used to be along the river to prevent bull shark attacks and support less experienced swimmers in the strong currents.

The bold vision has the backing of peak environment group Healthy Land and Water, who have collected data on the river’s health for 23 years.

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri poses for a photograph in the Brisbane river. Proposal to build a bridge between Toowoong and West End. Monday March 11, 2019. (AAP image, John Gass)

“Can it be done? Yes it can, we’ve proven it, we just need greater investment, none of this will involve cheap solutions,” chief executive officer Julie McLellan said.

“Jonathan has put a reasonable piece together and he’s on the right track.

“I don’t think it’s a silly vision that we could swim in the river again.

“Yes there’s sharks and strong currents and ferries, but we’re not going to be lapping across to South Bank. I think it should be a vision for the city and broader region.”

Ms McLellan believes the brown snake can be resurrected in time for the 2032 Olympics, if all other relevant stakeholders get on board.

“The way to improve the river’s health is around preventing sediment run-off from urban construction sites, and also revegetating creek banks further upstream,” she said.

“The rules are set, it’s the enforcement where we struggle – which is the local council. Development is hitting them from all fronts, so it’s hard, but not impossible.

“We have also seen drastic reductions in nitrogen levels after sewage treatment upgrades.

“But we would strongly support targets being set for Moreton Bay more broadly and the Brisbane River itself around water quality and biodiversity

“If we want to measure our success by 2032, we need clear targets.”