Burpengary Creek is a tidal creek in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. [1] [2] It has a total catchment area of 7,960 hectares. It is about 40 kilometres north of Brisbane,
The Burpengary Creek catchment forms part of the larger Deception Bay catchment and encompasses two distinctive creeks–Little Burpengary Creek [3] (6,360ha) and Burpengary Creek (6, 360ha). These creeks flow into Deception Bay just south of the mouth of Caboolture River, which is itself south of Bribie Island.
Burpengary Creek begins in the D’Aguilar Ranges at a height of 340 metres above sea-level. The Creek continues to flow down the mountain slopes into Narangba, through the pine forests adjoining Oakey Flat Road. It then flows into the residential areas of Morayfield and Burpengary before spilling out into southern Deception Bay.
Burpengary (meaning place of the wattle trees) [1] holds deep significance for the Aboriginal communities that lived along the creek area. They found it valuable for camping, fishing, making canoes from the trees and for access to the coastline. The last male of the local tribe, Menvil Wanmurarn (also known as Jacky Delaney), was buried alongside the Creek when he died in 1900. He was known as the King of Stoney Creek (the name of Upper Burpengary Creek). [4] His gravesite (approx 27°10′32″S152°55′17″E / 27.175632°S 152.921342°E ) is listed on the Moreton Bay Region Local Heritage Register. [5]
In 1842 Robert Dixon developed the first map of the area and marked Burpengary Creek on it as Cuthbertson Creek. By 1851 the area around Burpengary Creek was well settled and used for grazing cattle and growing sugar cane and bananas. The dairy industry had a quick demise and farmers were selling their land to Australian Paper Manufacturing (APM) Forests for the plantation of Pine Trees within the catchment. Within a short space of time, around 1958, APM eventually planted over 20,000 hectares of pine forests. Exotic conifers accounted for almost one-third of these forests. APM made a proposal to the Queensland State Government to build a large pulp mill nearby, but these were rejected and APM abandoned the land and sold it to a South Australian property developer. However, this land was marked by the former Caboolture Shire's draft strategic plan to remain for basic rural activities and the development of urban and rural residential properties would not be permitted.
This strategic plan did not withstand the widespread population growth within the Burpengary catchment area as it is now primarily used for suburban development. Continuously more bush land and plantations are being cleared for this progressive development. What this means for residential flora and fauna remains to be seen.
It is estimated that less than 7.5% of the original vegetation within Burpengary Creek catchment remains.[ citation needed ] Along the Creek there are many important tree associations that need to be conserved as only remnants of them remain. Along the coast two types of forests are evident–mangroves along the shores of Deception Bay and the tea trees and paperbark forests in the freshwater wetlands. The bulk of the catchment area includes open eucalypt forests, with vine forests / shrubs and riverline forests running sparsely along the edge of the Creek. The largest undisturbed Tea Tree and Scribbly Gum forest in south-east Queensland is located in Freshwater National Park, alongside Deception Bay Road. Other tree species found within this region are Smooth Barked Gums, Stringy Barks, Iron Barks, Brush Box, Hoop Pine, Cedar, Ash and Tulip Oak. Extreme care needs to be taken to preserve this vegetation to ensure that it is a safe haven for the numerous species of wildlife that lives within the Burpengary Creek catchment. [6]
Burpengary Creek catchment is home to diverse range of native animals, despite the widespread clearing of native plants and trees to make way for suburban development. There are over 150 bird species, which have been observed along Burpengary Creek. [7] Some of the more common birds that have been sighted include the eastern whipbird, noisy friarbird, galah sulphur-crested cockatoo, tawny frogmouth, laughing kookaburra, kingfishers, honeyeaters, Australian king parrot and Australian magpie.
Burpengary Creek catchment is also home to one of Australians endangered frog species the giant barred frog. This frog lives in the moist forests borrowing beneath fallen leaves and loose soil during the day and comes out at night to forage for food. Alongside this endangered Australian animal there are also other frog species, including the ornate burrowing frog, the rocket frog and the whistling tree frog. [8] [9]
The brown tree snake, green tree snake, carpet python, Australian coral snake and rough-scaled snake also live within this catchment area and are generally seen between the months of October to January. Other reptiles that can be found within this region are Burton's legless lizard, eastern water dragon, bearded dragon and the lace monitor.
Native mammals within this area include: northern brown bandicoot, red-necked wallaby, platypus, ringtail possums, brush tail possums and the grey-headed flying-fox. Furthermore, native bees can also be found within the Burpengary Creek catchment.
People, plants and animals are the three main threats to Burpengary Creek. Along with widespread settlement along Burpengary Creek came clearing of native plants, pipes built underground, soil erosion, hardening of creek beds and homes built in the flood path, which in turn results in continuing of private and public costs. [10] Early settlement days saw the introduction of horses, cattle and domestic pets, which has seen widespread degradation of natural vegetation which suppresses re-growth and fauna being killed. Introduced species of plants, such as camphor laurel, privet bush, Chinese elm and balloon vine have overrun and in some instances destroyed native vegetation.
Burpengary Creek has risen more than 2 cm over the past 20 years and this trend is expected to rise dramatically.[ citation needed ]
Burpengary creek is a good fishing spot and it has nearby boat ramps that allow for easy access to the Creek. There are boat ramps at O’Leary Avenue in Burpengary and at Uhlmann Road boat ramp into Caboolture River with only a short trip around the bend into Burpengary Creek. [11] It is also noted for having large quantities of mud crabs in the lower reaches of the Creek. [12]
Grassy areas within the parks along the Creek line allow for family picnics, flying kites, and general outdoor activities such as Boules or a family game of cricket. Another option is bird-watching at the Caboolture Regional Environmental Education Centre (CREEC) on Rowley Road, Burpengary. [13]
Conondale National Park is 130 km north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland near the town of Conondale in the south east Queensland bioregion. The park covers an area of 35,648 hectares protecting large areas of subtropical rainforest, woodlands, wet and dry sclerophyll forest including Queensland's tallest tree. The park contains areas of regenerating forest which have been previously logged; areas of forest plantations also border the park. The park is currently managed by the Queensland Government under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast on its way to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1, the longest highway route in Australia. Its length is approximately 1,679 kilometres (1,043 mi); it is entirely sealed with bitumen. The highway is named after a popular former Queensland and federal politician, Harry Bruce. Bruce was the state Minister for Works in the mid-1930s when the highway was named after him. The highway once passed through Brisbane, but was truncated at Bald Hills when the Gateway Motorway became National Highway 1 upon its opening in December 1986.
Burpengary is a town and suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the suburb of Burpengary had a population of 14,022 people.
The Shire of Pine Rivers was a local government area about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Brisbane in the Moreton Bay region of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 771 square kilometres (297.7 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1888 until 2008, when it amalgamated with councils further north and east to form the Moreton Bay Region.
Burpengary railway station is located on the North Coast line in Queensland, Australia. It serves the suburb of Burpengary in the Moreton Bay Region.
The D'Aguilar Range is a mountain range near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The town of Dayboro is situated on the lower foothills midway along the range and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland town of Mooloolah lies at the northernmost point of the range. Many residential areas line its eastern slopes including the town of Samford and the suburb of Ferny Hills. In the west, numerous ridges and gullies are heavily forested and designated as state forest or national park.
Brisbane Forest Park, is located on parts of the D'Aguilar Range. The large nature reserve lies on the western boundary of City of Brisbane into the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia, in Enoggera Reservoir, adjacent to The Gap and between the Mount Coot-tha Reserve on the Taylor Range and higher peaks to the north. Brisbane Forest Park supports plants and animals and is essential to their survival. The main entrance is located in the suburb of The Gap although there are a number of other access points.
The County of Stanley is a cadastral division centred on the city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, that is used mainly for the purpose of registering land titles. It was named after Edward Stanley, who was three times British prime minister in the 1850s and 1860s. It is bounded by the Logan River in the south, the Brisbane River at what is now Lake Wivenhoe in the west, the Stanley River at what is now Lake Somerset in the north-west, and Caboolture River in the north. It includes Moreton Island and Stradbroke Island, and extends west to Ipswich's CBD, south to Loganlea and north to Morayfield.
Deception Bay is a coastal suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Deception Bay had a population of 19,850 people.
The Pine River is a small river in South East Queensland, Australia.
The North Pine River is a minor river located in South East Queensland, Australia.
The Moreton Bay Region is a local government area in the north of the Brisbane metropolitan area in South East Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it replaced three established local government areas, the City of Redcliffe and the Shires of Pine Rivers and Caboolture.
The Caboolture River is a small river in South East Queensland, Australia.
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Burpengary East is a coastal suburb of Burpengary in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Burpengary East had a population of 6,433 people.
Christopher Guy Whiting is an Australian politician. He has been the Australian Labor Party member for Bancroft in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2017, and previously represented Murrumba from 2015 to 2017.
Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex is a sports field complex in Burpengary, a suburb of the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built and opened in 2013 and are managed by Caboolture Sports Football Club, Moreton Bay Australian Football Club and AFL Queensland's Northern Brisbane Academy Programs. It is the home ground for Caboolture Sports Football Club, playing within Football Queensland competitions, and also the home ground for Moreton Bay in the Queensland Football Association Northern Conference. It is also the primary home ground for the Brisbane Lions AFL Women's team.
The Geography of Brisbane is characterised by its coastal location in the south eastern corner of the Queensland state of Australia. It is located precisely halfway up the Australian east coast with longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of 27.5° south and 153° east. The city resides within the Moreton Bay Floodplain, stretching from Caboolture to the north, Beenleigh to the south and as far as Ipswich to the west whilst being bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east.
Caboolture Sports Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Burpengary, Queensland, Australia. Caboolture Sports plays in the Football Queensland Premier League, the second flight of Queensland football, following promotion from the third flight after winning the 2021 premiership. The club has a senior men, senior women and a variety of academy teams competing in Queensland competitions.
Coordinates: 27°09′44″S153°02′07″E / 27.16222°S 153.03528°E
