Diving into a cleaner future for Centenary Lakes

Published 28 January 2022

Centenary Lakes Sunny Water feature.jpg

One of Moreton Bay’s most popular green spaces is set to make a splash on the environmental front, with a large consultancy firm given the signal to dive into the design for an upgrade of its waterways.

Boasting stunning vistas of rainforests, waterfalls and bridges arching across flowing streams, Caboolture’s Centenary Lakes Park is a key sporting hub, an event and wedding venue, a favourite with picnickers and families with kids, and home to a stunning array of wildlife.

Council has awarded a tender for the design of the rehabilitation and enhancement of the existing lake system to Cardno (QLD) Pty Ltd.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said delivering better water quality, safety and amenity were top priorities.

“I am consistently hearing that Council needs to do all it can to preserve the natural beauty of our region - and this project shows we are working hard to walk the talk on the environmental front,” Mayor Flannery said.

“Centenary Lakes is a treasured part of Caboolture, literally located right in its heart. We’re keeping our finger on the pulse here to make sure the community and visitors can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

“The design will deliver a highly functional water treatment facility that will also help protect the beautiful wildlife that call the lakes home.”

Plans will also include the conversion of small lake segments to natural waterway sections with pumped flows, conversion of one of the existing lakes into a natural-style waterway, realigning sections of the existing pathway to improve public safety, fixing eroded or unstable banks, and installing extra access points for maintenance and a gross pollutant trap.

Division 3 Councillor Adam Hain said kicking off the design process to preserve Centenary Lakes was a leap forward in Council’s plans to revitalise Caboolture.

“This project is key to this Council’s vision for Centenary Lakes as being at the heart of social, sport and recreational life for the Caboolture/Morayfield communities,” Cr Hain said.

“In addition to the work already completed on the $230,000 construction of Caboolture Boxing Club inside the park, we’re also developing plans for two major transport improvement projects within the Centenary Lakes and Elliott Street areas.

“The $350,000 Council has allocated for these works as part of the 2021-22 Budget will completely transform the area. The plans include accessible 2.5m to 3m shared pathways connecting Riverview St pedestrian bridge to the corner of Elliott Street and Morayfield Rd, lighting upgrades, new raised pedestrian crossings, road resurfacing from Morayfield Rd to Riverview Street, an improved turnaround bay for better and safer access to the shops along Elliott Street, plus landscaping and shade tree planting.

“This will kick start a reinvention of the way we use the lakes and Caboolture CBD, and I am so excited to see this project moving forward.”

Detailed design is scheduled to commence this month and is estimated to be completed by June 2022.

Consultation will begin in early 2022 to make sure the revamped Centenary Lakes meets the needs of the community, clubs and competition organisers. Visit https://yoursay.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/centenarylakesrevamp for more information and to stay informed about the project.