Environmental rehabilitation works
Judy Holt Park, once a landfill, is one of 28 areas on the Redlands Coast repurposed into green spaces for the community.
Historical landfill practices predating stringent environmental laws mean Council must now effectively manage this legacy inherited to us. In particular, we are focussed on the management of leachate, water that has passed through waste material in a closed landfill and picked up contaminants on the way.
Council has already made significant progress, such as capping the eastern part of the park with an engineered system to minimise water penetration.
Upcoming works to the northern section of the park include reshaping the northern slopes, installing ventilation systems, expanding the existing leachate management system, and enhancing monitoring protocols. These works are being undertaken to protect nearby ecosystems like Tarradarrapin Creek, which flows into RAMSAR-listed wetlands.
Supported by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), these ongoing efforts aim to safeguard the surrounding environment by preventing the movement of residual liquid.
Learn more about Redland City Council's closed landfill management by visiting Closed landfill management | Redland City Council.
Current works snapshot
Works on the northern section are scheduled to commence August, 2024 and begin with:
- vegetation clearing in the area to provide access so work can commence and ensure the safety of workers.
During works, the community can expect:
- vegetation clearing
- construction hours: Monday–Saturday 6.30am–6.30pm (work is subject to weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances)
- moderate levels of noise and dust, managed through appropriate mitigation measures
- temporary access restrictions in certain areas for safety reasons
- no restricted access to the playing fields
- fencing and signage in place to prevent park users from entering the construction area.
Remaining works (from 2024–2026)
The planned works to the northern section of the park aim to safeguard the environment by preventing residual liquid movement. Before these works can commence, vegetation must be removed. Council will then:
- reshape northern slopes
- add ventilation systems
- expand existing leachate system
- enhance monitoring protocols.
Vegetation clearing and rejuvenation
The removal of vegetation is critical to facilitate the essential works that will lead to long-term environmental rehabilitation in the area.
The vegetation scheduled for removal has been carefully evaluated in an environmental assessment report and strict codes and regulations have been followed for clearing. Only essential areas of vegetation have received approval for clearance. It is important to note that a significant portion of the vegetation to be cleared has been identified as introduced species of weeds and their removal will result in a positive impact on the area.
It is important to understand that vegetation clearing is due to inappropriate regrowth on the base of the landfill cap. Once the vegetation is removed, the project team can access the affected areas to clean up and build the necessary infrastructure to control the leachate.
Vegetation clearing map
The area shaded white in the map below is an indicative example of where vegetation will be removed.
Above image: arial image of the northern section of Judy Holt Park (backing onto Old Cleveland Road)
Timeline of vegetation clearing works
Please note that the dates provided below are indicative and not final. They are subject to change due to weather conditions, contractor availability, and other unforeseen circumstances.
- 24/07/2024 – contractors appointed by Council
- 06/08/2024 – Fauna Spotter begins pre-works survey
- 13/08/2024 to 19/09/2024 – clearing works begin, Fauna Spotter conducts works monitoring, Fauna Spotter reports to DESI, cultural monitor works commence.
Enivronmental impact mitigation measures
- Protective buffers to keep wildlife safe and minimise disturbances, ensuring that construction activities do not harm local habitats.
- Weed removal involving clearing a significant portion of vegetation identified as introduced species of weeds, which will have a positive impact on the area.
- Fauna spotters on-site to safely relocate any wildlife encountered during the construction process.
- Offsite planting and rejuvenation, Council has pledged almost $200,000 to offsite planting and rejuvenation efforts adjacent to the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area at Mount Cotton.
Project schedule
(Above: Judy Holt Recreation Reserve rehabilitation works map)
Stage 1 (green): design and construction late 2024–mid 2026
- Leachate collection trench & access road
- Pump station
Vegetation clearing will primarily occur on the fringes of the green shaded area, with the exception of a few trees that have regenerated on the slope of the batter near the white stage 2 area.
Stage 2 (white): future works mid to late 2026 and beyond
- Capping of rugby fields (late 2026)
- Leachate pre-treatment plant (if required) (mid 2026)
Existing capped area (blue): 60% of this area has been successfully remediated.
Contact information
For more information about this project contact Redland City Council, email rcc@redland.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3829 8999.
Frequently asked questions
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The nearby Tarradarrapin Creek runs into the Ramsar listed Tarradarrapin Wetland. These wetlands are vital for biodiversity, water quality, and habitat preservation. They act as natural filters, support diverse plant and animal life, and mitigate flooding. Protecting these wetlands is essential for ecosystem health and the well-being of both wildlife and the community.
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In 1971, representatives from 18 nations including Australia met in the Iranian city of Ramsar to sign the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known as the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention aims to stop wetlands being lost across the world, and to conserve and manage the remaining wetlands we have. Wetlands support large numbers of waterbirds and/or threatened species, exhibit other biodiversity or have unusual and precious landscapes. The convention lists wetlands that are so valuable they are considered international treasures. Queensland has five wetlands listed by the Ramsar Convention.
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Stringent environmental guidelines underpin the planning, design and delivery of this project and Council is committed to meeting all its environmental responsibilities. The prime environmental objectives of this project are to reduce the migration of leachate off site and reduce its generation.
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Vegetation clearing is necessary to access and remediate contaminated areas, ensuring the protection of wetlands and surrounding ecosystems. Care will be taken during detailed design to minimise the number of trees removed, but it is not possible to achieve the required environmental outcomes and retain all the vegetation. Council has pledged almost $200K to offsite planting and rejuvenation efforts adjacent to the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area at Mount Cotton.
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The project will have numerous long-term benefits for the community, including improved water quality, enhanced recreational opportunities and preservation of biodiversity. By safeguarding the wetlands, we are investing in the health and well-being of both current and future generations.
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Closed landfill sites are locations where household and industrial waste has been buried.
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Leachate is water that has passed through waste material in a closed landfill and picked up contaminants on the way.
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Council monitors the water and air at Judy Holt Park by regularly sampling from:
- 16 ground water wells, 11 leachate monitoring wells and 5 surface water sampling sites, and gas wells, vents, site structures and the ambient air.
This data has informed an Impact Assessment and a Mitigation Strategy, which was developed in partnership with an Environmental and Engineering Design Consultant who:
- reviewed the site conditions and monitoring data
- prepared a report highlighting any gaps in this data and knowledge
- undertook any fieldwork or monitoring to close the data gaps
- prepared a draft Contamination Land Investigation Document (CLID) which has been reviewed by the Contaminated Land Auditor (CLA).
This work has been reviewed independently by a contaminated land auditor to ensure it is appropriate.
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In Queensland, an auditor for contaminated land independently evaluates a contaminated land investigation document and prepares an auditor’s certification of the document.
The government then relies on the auditor’s certification to determine what action should be taken regarding the contaminated land.
Approval to be an auditor in Queensland is a legal status that can only be granted by the chief executive of the department administering the Environmental Protection Act 1994, which currently is the Department of Environment Science and Innovation (DESI). Without that approval, a person cannot act as an auditor. -
SMPs are used to manage the environmental harm that may be caused by contamination of land.
In many instances it is more practical and presents less environmental and/or health risk to manage contaminants on-site under specified conditions rather than trying to remove them. These conditions would form the basis of a SMP.
SMP's must be approved by the Queensland Environmental Regulator before taking affect. -
The work required depends on the type of waste that has been deposited, the sensitivity of the receiving environment and if there is an evidence that contaminants are leaving the site.
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Landfill sites in Queensland are regulated by the Queensland Department of Environment Science and Innovation (DESI) through the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EPA).
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The Eastern part of the site has been capped with an engineered capping system, which is designed to minimise the penetration of water. Other infrastructure includes a leachate collection trench and pump station. The leachate collected from the Eastern part of the site is sent to the Capalaba Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment.
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Council has an inspection and maintenance regime in place, including an Incident Response Plan for management of any leachate outbreaks should they occur. While the northern section of the site does not have an engineered cap it does have a cap to reduce infiltration and ensure waste is safely buried to create a valuable community space.