Rehabilitation works at the Keith Boden Wetlands at Shaw Park are set to commence on 25 May, subject to final scheduling and weather conditions.
Read: Keith Boden Wetlands Restoration Gains Momentum
The news came via an April 24 community update from Cr Adam Allan, who confirmed that Council officers have provided advice that the project is set to get underway next month.
“Thank you to the community for your patience and understanding while these complex works have been planned,” Cr Allan wrote in his Facebook post. “This is a surprisingly complicated project which entailed detailed design and bespoke project methodology in order to progress the project.”
A Wetland With a Long History and a Growing Problem
The Keith Boden Wetlands were originally constructed in 1998 with a clear environmental purpose: to filter sediment and pollutants from stormwater runoff before it flows into Kedron Brook and eventually Moreton Bay. After 25 years, accumulated sediment has taken a toll on the wetlands’ ability to function effectively.
Excessive sediment build-up has led to exposed mudbanks and decaying organic matter that have worsened despite recent rainfall events, degrading both water quality and local biodiversity in the process. As Cr Allan put it in his funding announcement, the wetlands are in need of TLC to keep working effectively.
Funding to carry out the rehabilitation was secured for the 2025-2026 financial year.
What the Works Will Involve
What can residents and park-goers expect once works begin? According to Cr Allan’s update, the project involves several stages of construction activity.
A temporary access track will first be built to allow construction vehicles to safely reach the site. Temporary detours and traffic control measures will also be put in place to protect pedestrians and cyclists using the area during the works.
The centrepiece of the project is the deployment of a floating excavator, which will work within a temporary bunded area inside the wetland. The excavator will remove the years of built-up sediment that has accumulated on the wetland floor. That material will be dewatered on-site before being transported off to a licensed facility, a requirement under the permits issued for the project.
Minor repairs to some of the retaining walls along the wetland’s edge are also planned as part of the scope of works.
Project signage with information and contact details will be installed on-site, so residents visiting Shaw Park will be able to stay informed as works progress.
Read: Community Calls for Action as Wavell Heights Wetlands Decline
A Complex Project With a Lot of Moving Parts
Cr Allan was candid about why it has taken time to get to this point. The project required detailed design work, a bespoke methodology, and a range of approvals and permits from the State Government, along with significant dialogue with State agencies to ensure the works could be completed safely and responsibly.
Cr Allan acknowledged the community’s patience throughout this process. Restoring the wetlands’ capacity to filter stormwater will benefit not only Shaw Park but the broader Kedron Brook catchment and Moreton Bay downstream.
Published 4-May-2026
