Coombabah Creek Catchment Climate Coastal Adaptation Plan

Project typeOcean, beaches & waterways
Project scheduleJuly 2024 to June 2025

Together with the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, we assessed the condition of Coombabah Lake and surrounding estuary against projected changes in climate, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and runoff from the upper catchment.

Coombabah Lake and surrounding estuary is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and is a declared Fish Habitat Area. The Coombabah wetland system is classified as a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention. This wetland system is home to a variety of key fish species, migratory birds, ecosystems, and marine and freshwater plants.

Identifying issues

Currently Coombabah wetlands are made up of fresh to brackish, intertidal and estuarine ecosystems. Changes to the climate, rising sea levels and ongoing development in the catchment will affect the biodiversity and ecology of the lake and estuary. A climate coastal adaptation plan aims to create resilience for the wetland values of Coombabah Lakeland Conservation Area into the future.

Project details

Phase 1: Tidal study and investigations 2021-24

We completed the following studies for the lake and surrounding estuary:

sediment, water quality and benthic fauna
tidal processes and depth changes to the Lake
vegetation of the wetland area.

Phase 2: Climate coastal adaptation plan 2024-25

The above studies will be used to develop a Coastal Adaptation Plan for Coombabah Wetland Biodiversity and Ecosystems.

Informing the community

Outcomes of the investigations were incorporate into an easy to understand Coombabah Story Map of how the lake and surrounds has changed over time. The story map explains the state of the waterway, changes in the lake and wetland, and expected future state of the wetland system. It integrates spatial information, photographs, animation and an informative narrative to demonstrate the features of Coombabah and its surrounding catchment.

Project benefits

Management decisions for climate adaptation of protected ecosystems in our city
Understanding and creating resilience to the current ecological health conservation of mangrove, saltmarsh ecosystems and freshwater wetlands protect significant habitat for key fish species
Support sustainable recreational fishing including bream, estuary cod, flathead, garfish, luderick, mangrove jack, sea mullet, tailor, whiting, banana prawns and king prawns
Increased recreational opportunities including canoeing, walking, and bird watching
An increased relationship between the local community and the water environment

This project supports advancing climate science action under the Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy (Q-CAS) and is aligned with the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Climate Adaptation Plan for Queensland.