Introduction
The aim of this report is to investigate the quality of Ross Creek’s water. Background information on the location and history of Ross Creek will be presented in the report. What Ross Creek is used for and the impact of what it is used for will be explained. This report will discuss ways of preserving the sustainability of Ross Creek, evaluate different solutions and make recommendations.
Description of Issue
Ross Creek is located 5km from Bicentennial Park and extends to Cleveland Bay. It flows in a northeasterly direction and travels through moderately flat terrain. The land around it has various uses; residential, commercial, transport. It is considered to be a urban tidal water way.
Ross Creek is important to the urban community of Townsville both economically and ecologically. The extensive amount of mangroves greatly benefits the environment. Nearly 80% of the fish we eat depends on mangroves and their sea grass beds. Maligned mangroves have been recognised as a purifier of polluted river water. Economically Ross Creek benefits Townsville because it is host to four major industries. Companies related to the Townsville Port, the Central Business District, north and south bank Rail Yards and commercial and real estate related businesses.
Cause of the Issues
John Melton Black and Robert Towns selected Ross Creek, to serve their hinterland and bucolic interests in 1964. A year later a rocky bar blocking the mouth of Ross Creek was blasted and a wharf and store was built. Later that year it was officially declared a Port of Entry for vessels. Townsville was promoted as an important centre of networks and roads in 1867 through to 1872 when gold was discovered in the hinterland. The creek became banked with ferries and cargo, the side of the creek dominated by large cargo sheds. The problem of crowding grew until the early 1880’s when the construction of two break waters were completed. In 1889, the Victoria Bridge was built. Large merchant houses built warehouses were built along the banks of Ross Creek. Business was one of the many things in which the creek and its environs were used.
Today Ross Creek and its resources are incorporated into everyday life. Businesses are set up all along the banks, and there are various areas designated to dumps. The environment has some dependence on Ross Creek’s resources; such as the fish rely on the mangroves; all factors that have an impact on the creeks water quality.
There are many different factors that influence the quality of Ross Creek’s water. Pollution of Ross Creek chokes it up and decomposes causing bad smell and unappealing appearance. It can also cause various troubles for the animals that live there. The building of residential areas and businesses impact the amount of pollution. And areas made into dump sites
Impacts of the Issue
Humans have a large impact on Ross Creek and are the cause of most of the factors in which contribute to the damages being done. The development of residential areas around Ross Creek this impacts the amount of litter in and near the creek and the loss of mangroves to reclaimed land. This has a large effect on marine life. The areas near such areas have increased pollution and litter. Two lakes were also constructed around the same general area.
The lakes constructed near Ross Creek were not constructed properly. They were too shallow and grass and other natural debris feel into the lake. This debris would break down in the water, deoxygenate the water flows and kill marine life.
Strategies
Steps can be taken to decrease the pollution and litter rate growing in and around Ross Creek. More bins along the creek would reduce the amount of little left behind and the community participation in clean up organisations. Recently the council has been taking steps to defer the amount of deoxygenated water; pumps shoot the water into the air to aerate it. They have also redirected storm drains away from the creek to avoid excessive amounts of watering pouring into Ross Creek.
Evaluation
The pollution and disruption of Ross Creek’s water quality is the issue that is caused by a number of factors.
- Rubbish being dumped/ littering
- Urban development
- Large traffic in the creek
- Tourism
- Water run off
These are all issues faced by the council, to limit rubbish being dumped and left along the creek the council has enforced on the spot fines to people who are caught littering along the creek.
Urban development is a bigger issue now than it ever has been and laws should be put in place enforcing minimum disruption to surround habitats. Water run off from both the developments and off the street is the hardest pollutant to try and minimise, tactics like keeping sites clean and free of chemicals that may run into the creek is a good way to start and keeping commercial run off from going into the creek is also a recommended idea.
Tourism and water traffic affect the creek by the boats polluting the waterway, having patrolling officers and on the spot fines for boats littering or dispensing chemicals into the creek would limit this pollution.
Manual labour around the creek like cleaning rubbish can be appointed to people who are required to do community service; this can also be done by youth who are in trouble. This offers the youth to be part of a positive team and help them over come the problems facing them in the future.
Recommendation
The most logical strategy to protect Ross Creek would be to turn to the city council. With the supply of bins, organisations and mediatised messages about the impacts of litter there will be reduced amount of garbage left behind. Laws and guidelines should be set out for businesses and residences that use Ross Creek, and with those consequences for the breaching of these guidelines.
Conclusion
This report investigated Ross Creek’s water quality and environment. The creek started getting used in the 1960’s. It has changed over the years and the creeks natural banks and water flow has been tampered with concreting and other human changes. Townsville City Council needs to take responsibility for the keeping and preserving of Ross Creek’s habitat and its creatures.
Reference
Answers.com
Information on the waterway and urban storm water initiative
