Platypus Archives - Springfield Lakes

Ipswich Waterways Targeted for Platypus Monitoring and Creek Restoration

Ipswich’s creeks and rivers are set for a major environmental boost, with several key local projects forming the backbone of a $30 million effort to revitalise waterways across South East Queensland.

Read: Efforts to Save Platypus Habitat Ramp-Up in Greater Springfield

From platypus monitoring to creek bank restoration, Ipswich will play a central role in the delivery of more than 30 projects under the Resilient Rivers program over the next two years. The program aims to improve water quality, restore native habitats, and protect local catchments, many of which flow through or begin in Ipswich.

waterways — Queensland lungfish (Photo credit: CC-BY-SA-2.5/Author Unknown/Wikimedia Commons)

One of the most notable projects is the launch of a region-wide environmental DNA (eDNA) survey, starting in Ipswich, which will help detect and monitor vulnerable species including platypus, freshwater turtles and lungfish. This marks the first time a coordinated survey of its kind will be carried out across South East Queensland.

Along Black Snake Creek, riverbank repair works will focus on revegetation and erosion control, improving both the environmental health of the area and its resilience to future flooding. The creek has long been prone to damage during heavy rainfall, and the planned interventions aim to strengthen its natural defences.

Ipswich will also benefit from downstream improvements. In the Lockyer catchment, which is closely linked to the city’s water supply—thousands of native plants will be established along Lower Lockyer Creek to help prevent an estimated 1,000 tonnes of sediment from entering the water system each year. These works support the continued operation of the Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plants, which supply drinking water to over half of Ipswich and Brisbane.

Other projects in the region include the restoration of high-value ecological areas, large-scale native tree planting to support wildlife, and riverbank stabilisation works in neighbouring Scenic Rim and Somerset areas, many of which have shared waterways with Ipswich.

While the broader Resilient Rivers program spans the entire South East, Ipswich stands out as a focal point for both early intervention and long-term catchment recovery. The city’s natural assets, its creeks, floodplains, and wildlife corridors, make it a key player in regional waterway management.

Read: South Ripley Land Secured to Protect and Conserve Koala Habitats

With works set to roll out gradually over the next two years, Ipswich residents can expect to see noticeable improvements in their local environment, helping to protect the city’s waterways, like creeks and rivers for generations to come.

Published 29-July-2025

Platypus Found Thriving in Unlikely Urban Oasis in Ipswich

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A recent survey conducted by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland has detected a significant platypus population in an unexpected location within the Brisbane River catchment near Ipswich.

The survey, conducted after the 2022 February flooding, identified Sandy Creek, along the western edge of Brisbane and Ipswich, as the unexpected habitat for Australia’s elusive mammal, with no other sites in the catchment recording a positive eDNA test for the animal.

The researchers examined 22 sites in the catchment and Sandy Creek emerged as the sole location where platypuses were found. The discovery highlights the importance of protecting the land surrounding waterways, particularly as the region transitions into a period of anticipated drought after several wet seasons in southeast Queensland.

Tamielle Brunt, an ecologist involved in the survey, emphasized the significance of preserving the platypus’s habitat in order to ensure their survival during dry spells. Female platypuses have the ability to burrow up to 30 meters, sometimes emerging within 30 centimetres of the surface, even in open parklands or residential backyards. Many people are unaware of the proximity of platypus colonies to their own homes.

Maintaining healthy water quality and preserving the habitat where platypuses reside are crucial factors in their well-being. The availability and quality of water directly influence their food sources, which primarily consist of aquatic water bugs such as dragonfly larvae and caddisfly larvae.

However, sedimentation and poor water quality can impact refuge pools, causing them to become shallower and reducing the diversity and abundance of these species that platypuses rely on for sustenance.

The presence of platypuses is not limited to Sandy Creek alone. Locals in Bellbird Park, a suburb of Ipswich, regularly report sightings along Woogaroo Creek. Keith McCosh, whose property backs onto the creek, expressed concern over the potential effects of a proposed development in his neighbourhood on one of Australia’s most remarkable mammals. While not opposed to urban development, McCosh believes it should be carried out sensitively, taking into account the needs of wildlife.

The responsibility of protecting the platypus population falls on local councils, as the species is considered relatively stable in Queensland.

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Ipswich City Council faces the challenge of striking a balance between the demand for housing and the preservation of the natural environment. Ms Brunt highlighted the significance of maintaining platypus populations in specific areas, as once they are lost, the chances of natural migration or recolonization are rare.

Deputy Mayor Russell Milligan, who chairs the environment and sustainability committee, assured that the Council collaborates closely with developers to mitigate the impact on wildlife. Within the 2023/24 budget, Ipswich City Council has identified conservation projects aimed at improving platypus habitats in urban areas. They acknowledge the concerns expressed by residents regarding land clearing and wildlife impacts and aim to establish a balanced approach in the assessment of development applications.

Published 26-June-2023

Platypus Population Across Ipswich Waterways Has Severely Declined

Photo Credit: City of Ipswich / ipswich.qld.gov.au

The latest report on the Platypus Monitoring Program across Ipswich’s waterways has revealed a concerning discovery: the platypus population has severely declined and immediate intervention is needed to address threats to the iconic monotreme’s continued survival.

The results of the 2021-2022 Platypus Monitoring Program mark the sixth monitoring event undertaken by the Council across Ipswich’s waterways in the last seven years.

This year’s report noted a “severe decline in the platypus populations” adding that it is “concerning and emphasises some key threats” to the health of the city’s waterways and the importance of the ongoing improvement programs.

Recommendations to implement programs that will help protect the remaining platypus population have been put forward.

*Platypus are rarely successfully bred in captivity, thus, protecting their habitat and their population is extremely important | Photo Credit: City of Ipswich / ipswich.qld.gov.au*

Council has agreed to investigate and support programs that will reduce sediment-laden runoff entering the city’s natural waterways and adversely impacting platypus habitat.

Likewise, the ongoing annual platypus monitoring program, as well as the waterway health projects meant to improve water quality and condition of platypus habitat, will also be continued.

The 2022 February severe weather event that hit South East Queensland and NSW has sparked calls for the platypus to be included in the country’s threatened species list following fears that the monotreme population have been wiped out by the floods.

Ipswich City Council identified the platypus as an iconic species under its Nature Conservation Strategy 2015; Queensland and New South Wales are yet to classify the animal as threatened.

To help better understand the species, following a noticed decline in recorded sightings in recent years, Council partnered with the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland to create a database that contains sightings and eDNA recordings of this egg-laying mammal.

Results of the monitoring program between 2015 and 2020 identified several locations of their within and adjacent to the Ipswich LGA including Sapling Pocket to Kholo Bridge in the mid-Brisbane River; Woogaroo Creek and Opossum Creek; and Sandy Creek, Camira through to BullockHead Creek and Wolston Creek in Brisbane.

Platypus is considered to be an integral part of Australian freshwater ecosystems but their habitat is prone to threats. They are also rarely successfully bred in captivity which makes it all the more important to protect their habitat and their population.