The Brisbane River—Maiwar to the Yuggera people—remains the living heart of our city, shaping neighbourhoods and life as it flows toward Moreton Bay. It is a place for rowing, kayaking and fishing, for CityCat rides and quiet moments beside the water. Its riverwalks offer space to exercise, reflect and reconnect with nature, while its mangroves and mudflats support birdlife, fish and marine life. Like parks and bushland, rivers are recognised as vital “blue spaces” that contribute to both mental and physical wellbeing.
Despite this significance, Maiwar is rated poorly in the Healthy Land and Water report card 2025, for pollution and biodiversity, with a long-term decline that is damaging Moreton Bay. Sewage, especially during wet weather, continues to flow into the river, along with plastics, toxic chemicals and oil. Sediment washed from eroding land has turned the water brown, a problem worsened by historic dredging that increased tidal flow. Excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus fuel algal blooms that disrupt the river and Bay’s ecosystems and deplete oxygen levels, leading to mass deaths of fish and mud crabs.
Much of this harm is preventable. Sediment runoff from agriculture in the upper catchment and from construction sites along the river can be reduced by preventing erosion and protecting riparian vegetation. Revegetation is crucial: stabilizing riverbanks and mudflats with native plants can trap sediment before it enters the water and restore natural habitat. Along the river’s saline reaches, well‑designed seawalls can boost biodiversity by providing surfaces for marine organisms and seaweeds to grow. And Brisbane needs a sewerage system that prevents faecal contamination from entering the river in the first place.
International examples show what is possible. The River Seine underwent a major cleanup ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, enabling safe swimming for the first time in generations. Paris captured and treated stormwater before it reached the river, improving water quality and creating a healthier urban environment. Brisbane could pursue a similar legacy: a cleaner, more resilient river that supports wildlife, recreation and community wellbeing for decades to come.
Climate change makes this work even more urgent. Queensland Government and CSIRO reports highlight that Brisbane is getting hotter, with summer nights likely to become uncomfortably hot. The river already provides natural cooling, and planting along its banks would increase shade and reduce urban heat. At the same time, rising water temperatures and increased stormwater loads threaten aquatic life, placing further strain on an already stressed ecosystem.
Maiwar has always given Brisbane its character, beauty and vitality. By strengthening catchment regulation, restoring riverbanks and managing runoff responsibly, we can protect this essential blue space. Caring for the Brisbane River is not only an environmental responsibility, it is an investment in the health, comfort and liveability of our community for generations to come.
