Kedron Brook restoration works

Status: Works complete

A section of Kedron Brook Bikeway in Corbett Park, behind Uxbridge Street, was destroyed by flood waters and localised erosion. The volume and velocity of water moving through the brook, along with run-off from a large stormwater outlet nearby this pathway, resulted in this erosion and the damage at this location.

Works to rebuild and restore the eroded embankment and reconstruct the bikeway were completed in mid-April 2023.

As part of the design, we focussed on resilient design features to improve stability of the embankment, including planting, ground stabilising mesh, ground compaction and large rocks.

Works involved:

• rebuilding the eroded embankment with rocks, compacted earth and mulch
• rebuilding damaged sections of the concrete paths to reconnect the bikeway
• planting a variety of native water tolerant plants and jute mesh to assist with resilience on the rebuilt embankment.

To restore this pathway and embankment with a focus on flood resilient design, we had to remove two trees. We have replanted 34 trees and over 4,000 native ground coverings.

View the project plan:

• Kedron Brook restoration project - Corbett Park Uxbridge St project plan (PDF - 1.46Mb)
• Kedron Brook restoration project - Corbett Park Uxbridge St project plan (doc - 1.89Mb)

Status: Works complete

We started works to reconnect the Kedron Brook Bikeway between Royal Parade and Stafford City Shopping Centre in early April and re-opened the creek crossing on 10 June 2022.

The existing bridge over the Kedron Brook at this location was buried by sediment and sand after the flood event, and the adjoining concrete pathways destroyed by flood waters.

Given the complexity of damage in this location, we completed the reconnection and restoration in stages.

1. Reinstated the original flow of the creek and redistribute sediment and sand
2. Detailed assessments of the bridge structure and adjoining pathways
3. Minor bridge repairs and reconstruction of adjoining pathways
4. Landscaping works

Final landscaping and sediment removal works in the area around the bridge were completed in December 2022. This involved laying new turf and planting water tolerant plants to help with soil stability around the creek crossing.

Status: Works complete at 65 and 87 Bedford Street

The embankment on the northern side of the Kedron Brook, adjacent to Bedford Street, experienced significant localised erosion at two sites during the severe weather event. This includes adjacent to 87 Bedford Street and 65 Bedford Street.

After the flood waters receded, we installed immediate temporary erosion controls at these two sites to ensure the safety of the community and to help prevent further erosion.

We started works at the site near 87 Bedford Street in June and have finished rebuilding the embankment. Final planting and landscaping works were completed between late August and September 2022.

Works to rebuild the embankment near 65 Bedford Street started in July and were completed in late August, with final planting works finished in September 2022.

Works at these sites generally included:

• using a mixture of mulch, soil, rocks and waterway sediment to reconstruct the embankment
• erosion protection improvements, including planting a variety of native water tolerant plants and trees, and jute matting to assist while the plants are establishing.

Status: Works complete

The embankment on the northern side of the Kedron Brook, at the end of Johnston Street in Gordon Park experienced significant erosion after the flood event.

We installed temporary erosion controls at this site after the flood event, including tarps and sandbags, to stabilise the site and prevent further erosion.

Works to remediate this site include:

• a mixture of mulch, soil, rocks and waterway sediment to reconstruct the embankment
• erosion protection improvements, including planting a variety of native water tolerant plants and trees, and jute matting to assist while the plants are establishing.

We have finished rebuilding the eroded embankment, placing jute matting and planting of water tolerant plants, with all works completed in early September 2022.

Status: Reconnection works complete

The existing creek crossing near Wolverhampton Street in Grange/Stafford was destroyed in the flood event. The embankment on the eastern side of the Kedron Brook experienced severe erosion and portions of the culvert crossing and adjoining concrete pathway washed away.

We identified several protected native species and their habitat at this site, including Tusked Frogs, which are now in their optimal breeding season. To complete works at this location and ensure the protection of these native animals, we implemented appropriate measures under our approved species management plans.

The bikeway at this location has been reconnected and restored, with final restoration works completed in early April 2023. 

While our immediate efforts have been focused on reconnecting the bikeway here, we are also investigating potential design options to upgrade this creek crossing location with a long-term, flood resilient structure that improves connectivity for walkers and riders.

Find out more about these upcoming works.

Status: Works complete

The culvert crossing and surrounding land at Walter Bourke Park in Gordon Park was damaged by flood waters and has remained closed to ensure the safety of the community. There was significant erosion on the northern bank of the brook, and a large stormwater drain adjacent to Kate Street/Shamrock Street was also damaged during the flood.

Overall, works to restore this site involved:

• rebuilding the eroded embankment with rocks, compacted earth and mulch
• repairing damaged sections of the culvert, handrails and adjoining concrete paths to reinstate a safe creek crossing
• planting a variety of native water tolerant plants and jute mesh to assist with resilience on the rebuilt embankment.

Works to restore the embankment and reconnect the bikeway at this location were completed in early December, with some final meshing to be removed before Christmas 2022.

Status: Works complete

Two locations in Kalinga Park, Clayfield were damaged by flood waters, including the rail underpass east of Diggers Drive, and a culvert creek crossing to the east of the rail line.

We completed works to rebuild the pathway and reopened the rail underpass in late June, and the culvert crossing re- in late July 2022.

Works to repair the culvert crossing included:

• removing damaged sections of path and concrete debris
• reconstructing the damaged sections of concrete path
• reinstalling handrails over the culvert, and other fencing nearby the culvert
• minor vegetation reinstatement and resilience improvements. 

Status: Temporary works complete

The embankment under the Burwood Road bridge, along the Kedron Brook, was damaged by flood waters.

We undertook temporary erosion protection works on the Burwood Road bridge abutment and piers, as part of the Kedron Brook restoration program. Works included placing large rocks in sections where erosion had occurred. These works will ensure the resilience of the bridge and nearby abutments and help keep our road network moving.

We will need to complete permanent works to repair the erosion and ensure the resilience of the bridge. Find out more about these upcoming works.

Status: Works ongoing

Lighting along 20km of Kedron Brook Bikeway was significantly impacted by the flood event, with electrical footings and services damaged or destroyed by flood waters.

We had to work quickly after the flood waters receded to de-energise lighting to ensure the safety of the community and have been undertaking extensive damage assessments since March.

Through an extensive audit of the lighting along the Kedron Brook, we have determined that more than 330 lighting sites were damaged or destroyed and require restoration. This will include replacing more than 150 lighting poles.

Where it is safe to do so, we have been switching lighting back on, however, lighting remains affected along large sections of the bikeway.

We are working with our lighting specialists to design, repair and restore the lighting as soon as we can.

Our current lighting restoration sites include:

Restoration work at each site may include:

• open trenching and vacuum excavating to install light pole foundations, conduits and electrical pits
• installation of luminaires and poles
• electrical cabling works
• adding topsoil and turf.

All lighting restoration works are expected to be completed by late October 2023.

Amelia Park to Gympie Road

We have experienced significant supplier lead times for particular light fittings required for these restoration works, including delivery of some faulty light fittings.

While the damaged lights between Amelia Park and Gympie Road have now been restored and energised, three light fittings on the eastern ramp to Gympie Road require new light fittings.

Once functional fittings are delivered by our supplier, we will install these three light fittings on the eastern access ramp and complete the final back-fill and scour protection works under Gympie Road bridge.

Challenges and complexities

We have faced a range of challenges and complexities throughout the Kedron Brook lighting restoration, including:

• theft of copper cables
• heritage listed parks and areas
• contaminated land
• market conditions and resourcing – difficulty sourcing resourcing and materials.

We are working hard to overcome these challenges to ensure the lighting along the bikeway is restored.