Community volunteers have planted more than 400 trees in the Enoggera catchment area, aiming to connect rehabilitated sections and improve the health of local waterways.
Community Effort in Action
Save Our Waterways Now (SOWN), a local environmental organisation, led a significant tree planting initiative that brought together numerous volunteers to work on restoring the Enoggera Creek catchment. The event, designed to link existing rehabilitation efforts along Yoorala Street with the neighbouring SEQ Water precinct, saw many native trees planted and mulched. The organisation, which has been active since 1994, continues to promote community involvement in restoring local waterways.
They have focused on the Enoggera, Ithaca and Fish Creeks, an area over 23 kilometres that flows into Breakfast Creek. SOWN aims to rehabilitate, restore, and maintain the catchment’s waterways and linked habitat areas by supporting and encouraging community participation.
Enoggera Reservoir Event
In a separate event, SOWN collaborated with The Gap Sustainability Initiative and SEQ Water to conduct a community planting and creek discovery session at Enoggera Reservoir. Volunteers planted native trees at the base of the dam wall. The session also included a macroinvertebrate study, where participants examined small water creatures to assess the creek’s health. This activity allowed the community to understand the local ecosystem better.
SEQ Water’s involvement made the event possible, providing access to the reservoir and supporting the restoration efforts. The organisation’s history reflects a long-term commitment to improving the health of the Enoggera catchment, with a focus on community participation and education.
SOWN’s History and Objectives
SOWN, which began as a project committee in 1994 and incorporated in 1998, has a long history of community-based environmental work. The organisation was formed due to concerns about the deteriorating state of Enoggera and Ithaca Creeks.
Early on, the organisation established objectives to provide a model for waterway rehabilitation, develop catchment plans, recruit and support volunteers, and rehabilitate waterways by removing rubbish and planting native species.
The organisation also operates a plant nursery and partners with Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to produce plants for restoration projects. SOWN has published educational materials, including “The creek in our backyard” and a 25th-anniversary history book, to raise awareness and inspire community action.
Published Date 28-Feb-2025