| Bremer River | |
|---|---|
 Railway bridge across the Bremer River, Ipswich, Queensland |
|
| Origin | Main Range |
| Mouth | confluence with Brisbane River |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Basin area | 2032 km² |
The Bremer River is a sub-catchment of the Brisbane River. The river drains several Scenic Rim valleys in south-east Queensland, including Fassifern Valley. The river was discovered in 1824 by John Oxley and Allan Cunningham.
This river and its tributaries cover an area of approximately 2032 km².[1] Most valleys within the catchment have extensive alluvial terraces. The Bremer River system is extremely degraded.
Contents |
Course
The Bremer passes close to the town of Rosewood and winds through the city of Ipswich. The catchment area is bordered by the Little Liverpool Range to the west, with the Main Range lying to the south and south-west. Towards the east is the Flinders Peak and the Teviot Range.[2] The river has a number of tributaries such as Bundamba Creek, Purga Creek, Reynolds Creek, Warrill Creek and Western Creek.
Degradation
The river system is known to flood and is considered to be heavily polluted, suffering from poor water quality. The Bremer does not receive enough water in its catchment to meet both human requirements and the need to flush out impurities. This results in poor water quality with high levels of turbidity, high nutrient levels and high levels of bacteria, especially where sewerage and drain runoff from the city of Ipswich is discharged into the river. Riparian vegetation has been nearly completely removed and the banks are now weed-infested.[3] Downstream the river suffers from not only sewerage and farming runoff but also abattoir effluent.[3]
In 2008 an annual assessment of water quality rated the Bremer River an F, the lowest grading possible.[4] Heavy metals including mercury, chromium, nickel and cadmium were found in Warrill Creek, a tributary of the Bremer, in 2009.[5] The source of the contamination was discharge from the RAAF Base Amberley. The contaminates did not reach the Bremer River itself.[6]
Water supply
Moogerah Dam was built in the upper reaches of Reynolds Creek.[7] The dam is currently providing drinking water for towns such as Boonah and is an irrigation source for crop farmers and those grazing cattle.
History
The discovery of the Bremer River by Europeans was made by John Oxley and Alan Cunningham on 25 September, 1824. Oxley named it Bremer's Creek after Captain James Gordon Bremer, who was in charge of HMS Tamar, at that time performing duties in the waters of the colony of New South Wales.[8]
Before the railway line from Ipswich to Brisbane was completed in 1875, the river served as an important navigation route between the two towns.[9]
See also
References
- ^ South East Queensland Regional Strategic Group, Strategic Guide to Natural Resource Management in South East Queensland, November 2000, p. 105. ISBN 0-7345-1740-8
- ^ "Rivers - Assessment of River Condition - Queensland - Brisbane River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/condition/qld/basin-brisbane-river.html. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ a b Dennison, William C.; Eva G. Abal (1999). Moreton Bay Study: A Scientific Basis for the Health Waterways Campaign. Brisbane: South East Queensland Regional Water Quality Management Strategy Team. p. 190. ISBN 0958646818.
- ^ Tony Moore (22 October 2008). "Brisbane's rivers, creeks in ailing health: report". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/brisbanes-rivers-creeks-in-ailing-health-report/2008/10/22/1224351311766.html. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ Nikole Jacobi and Francis Tapim (8 September 2009). "'Exhaustive investigation' into Amberley creek contamination". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/08/2679264.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ Emma Pollard (17 December 2009). "Defence Dept to fix Amberley base creek pollution". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/17/2774612.htm. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ "Latest River Heights for Reynolds Ck at Moogerah Dam". Australian Government - Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDQ65389/IDQ65389.540364.plt.shtml. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
- ^ "Ipswich - Culture and History". theage.com.au. Fairfax Digital. http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-factsheet/ipswich--culture-and-history-20081120-6cob.html. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ "Paddle Steamer Trade Between Ipswich And Brisbane On The Bremer River". http://www.youripswich.com.au/history/Bremer_River_Transport.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
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