Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks

Stormwater Queensland and the Queensland Water Directorate would like to invite you to the Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks on Thursday 7 May 2026.

The tour will include the two most iconic offsets-related nature-based solutions projects completed in Queensland in 2026 including:

• The Cannery Creek Project - Urban Utilities has invested approximately $72 million to upgrade the sewer at Cannery Creek in Brisbane’s north-east (in the suburbs of Northgate and Banyo). The project includes the installation of two new sediment basins, fish screens, a wet weather pump station, screening chamber, over two kilometres of new underground pipelines, riparian restoration, a constructed wetland and two bioretention basins. The project is now operational and is managing wet weather overflows and reducing sediments and nutrients from both wet weather overflows and stormwater as part of a water quality offset. This part of the tour will include visiting all the aforementioned infrastructure. Further information on this project can be found here.

• The Shoreline Mangrove Offset Project (SMOP) – As part of the Shoreline community development, Stockland is constructing the Southern Redland Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant and offsetting nutrient loads from this plant via a recently completed 9.8-hectare mangrove wetland. Delivered by Stockland in partnership with Redland City Council, the large-scale restoration transforms previously degraded and weed-infested land into a thriving mangrove forest and wetland ecosystem, creating vital habitat for fish, prawns and wading birds.  The system works with natural tidal flows supporting water quality, biodiversity, and long-term shoreline resilience. This part of the tour will focus on the mangrove wetland rather than the treatment plant. Further information on this project can be found here.

The projects share common goals of enhancing community and ecological values beyond standard regulatory requirements and adapting to pressures such as population growth and a changing climate while being grounded in strong community engagement.

Presentations will include discussions about community engagement, design, approvals, construction, operation, establishment, maintenance and monitoring.

These projects have direct relevance to stormwater and wastewater practitioners alike with directly transferable approaches adopted by these projects to both water streams. They exemplify the practical application of Total Waster Cycle Management principles and while they may be a first of their kind nationally, the lessons to be shared can be applied broadly to many different types of projects.

The bus tour will be followed by networking drinks at the Ship Inn, Southbank.

Bus Tour pickup/drop off location

Pick-up location is the South Brisbane Memorial Park Coach Parking located on Vulture Street, between Grey Street & Dock Street at 8:45am.

The bus will drop delegates back to the pick-up location at 4:30pm which is a 1-minute stroll to the Ship Inn, Southbank where delegates will head for networking drinks after the tour.

Collaboration

The Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks is a collaboration between Stormwater Queensland and the Queensland Water Directorate.

This event is designed for but not limited to:

• Stormwater and wastewater professionals

• Utilities

• State & Local Government 

• Engineers

• Scientists

• Landscape architects

• Urban Designers

• Planners

• Developers

• Economists.

Tickets - extended to 5pm Tuesday 5 May 2026!

Ticket price includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and your first drink at the networking drinks after the bus tour.

Tickets are very limited and expected to sell out quickly.

Members rates exclusively available to members of Stormwater Queensland and the Queensland Water Directorate.

To join Stormwater Queensland as a member, click here. 

Sponsors

We would warmly like to thank our incredibly valuable sponsors who have made this event possible:

Gold Sponsor

Networking Drinks Sponsor

TBC