The Loganholme Wetlands: Threatened by Development
The Loganholme Wetlands is a mainly freshwater riparian floodplain that extends about 1¼ km from Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road to a tidal outlet on the Logan River.
It contains melaleuca forests and areas of open wetland with reeds and sedges. Significant portions the vegetation are shown as 'Of Concern' on vegetation mapping. There is a rich diversity of wildlife, including protected species of waterbirds. These are the subject of ongoing surveys by the Bird Observers Club of Australia.
The northern portion of this wetland is encroached upon by a residential subdivision in Egret Court and Watercress Avenue. Some of these allotments extend across the wetland but they have just enough high ground to build houses on. Appropriate buffer zones and environmental impacts were ignored when Council approved these subdivisions.
Fortunately, these encroaching allotments have not yet been built on and the developer is willing to negotiate their sale to the Council for a Nature Reserve. It's not clear what will happen if Council decides not to buy.
Another developer has plans to dredge the southern end of the wetlands to create a 300 berth marina. This is to be connected to the Logan River by dredging a 45 metre wide channel.
The marina site is an important habitat for various species of waterbirds and it contains reeds and sedges classed as 'Of Concern' on vegetation maps. Salt from the marina is likely to enter the water table and affect the remaining freshwater wetland.
Other issues are the loss of river mangroves, water pollution and the probable excavation of acid sulphate soils.
A view of one of the many watercourses on the site of the proposed marina, an important waterbird habitat.
