Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference, 2026, Auckland
Kedron Brook, an urban waterway in Brisbane (Australia), experienced significant riverbank erosion during flood event in February 2022, resulting in damage to property, infrastructure, loss of riparian vegetation, and sediment loads to downstream Moreton Bay. In response, the Kedron Brook Riverine Recovery project proposed nature-based solutions to address significant erosion within a reach of Kedron Brook and build greater resilience to catchment stressors. The project presented an opportunity to engage the local community through a capacity-building process to improve community understanding and acceptance of nature-based solutions and facilitate ongoing community stewardship of the completed works.
This study presents the findings from the interactive, capacity-building workshops and community education sessions in addition to targeted engagement on proposed designs with residents and stakeholders. Community feedback on the sessions was positive, with residents reporting that the sessions improved understanding of urban stream geomorphology and flooding processes and increased awareness of the importance of nature-based solutions.
Long-term success and greater acceptance of nature-based solutions in urban waterways require effective stewardship. Leveraging community support provides an alternative stewardship framework for managing urban waterways for local governments and authorities to reduce the ongoing management costs associated with these waterway assets.
