| In 1823, John Oxley
first charted the Brisbane River and, by 1842, Brisbane township
was established. Since then, almost 180 years later, Brisbane City
has expanded and spread across surrounding riverside lands. The
area has undergone extensive urbanisation with rapid population
growth and industrial expansion to become Australia's third largest
city with its busy, international port.
The river and fringing lands have been altered beyond recognition
from their pre-settlement condition. The river is much narrower,
it's margins hardened with rock walls, roads and building, and it
is much deeper after dredging to accommodate the largest vessels.
But, what are the effects of such changes on riperian ecosystems
and the ecological functioning of the river? Are they sustainable?
Does it matter? How much is the quality of our lives linked with
the river and neighbouring marine wetland environment? How much
do you value our river and coastal location?
The time is right to take stock and evaluate. The Coastal CRC's
Historical Coastlines Project is gathering knowledge and comparing
current indicators of ecological condition with those from the past,
using photographs, maps and memories. In this phase of the project,
the team is focusing on changes in coastal features and intertidal
wetlands of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Region.
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| The changing view from Highgate
Hill, South Brisbane: in 1867, with scattered housing; in 1960,
where the town hall and its chiming dominate the city centre;
and in 2002, where the town hall is no longer visible behind
towering skyrises. |
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