Health of Gold Coast waterways has declined since last year says the annual Healthy Land and Water report

THE Gold Coast has the worst record for protecting habitat beside our crucial estuaries and the health of waterways across the city dropped in the past year. Researchers have issued a stark warning.

Dogs in Currumbin Creek — the creek saw a decline in health over the past year. Picture: Jo Staveley.

GOLD Coast waterways have declined in health over the past year according their annual report card released today.

Due to increased pollution the Albert, Pimpama, Coomera and Nerang Rivers all lost marks in the 2017 Healthy Land and Water Report Card.

Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek were also marked down for similar reasons.

Overall Gold Coast catchments were rated from “fair” to “good”.

The Nerang River just near the M1 Motorway. Photo: Jerad Williams.

The report found the greatest threat to local waterways was population growth and rapid development.

The organisation also found the Gold Coast had “the least intact estuarine habitat in South East Queensland” with sparse riverbank vegetation which made waterways highly sensitive to storm events.

On a positive note the report found projects to stabilise riverbanks could fix these problems.

Across South East Queensland about 30,000 dump trucks of sediment ran into waterways which doubled last year’s figure.

Jet ski's at Weedons Crossing playing in a flooded Nerang River during ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie floods. Photo: Luke Sorensen.

The report found this was in part due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

It was also revealed that the use of South East Queensland waterways provided $3.2 billion worth of value to the economy last year.

Wynter Saunders, 17, from Brisbane paddle boarding with her pooch Shelby at Currumbin Creek. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT.

THE HEALTHY LAND AND WATER REPORT CARD:

— Albert River received a “C” dropping from a “C+” in 2016.

— Pimpama and Coomera received a “B-” dropping from a “B” in 2016.

— Nerang received a “C-” dropping from a “C” in 2016.

— Tallebudgera and Currumbin received a “B-” dropping from a “B” in 2016.

Looking southward across the Nerang River with the Sundale Bridge on the left. Picture: Cynthia Barrow.