What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm Saturday 9am - 11am

Save Our Waterways Now

Home
Australia
Brisbane, QLD
Save Our Waterways Now

SOWN is a community-based environmental organisation working to restore the habitats of waterways in the Enoggera catchment.

SOWN is supported by the Brisbane City Council through its Habitat Brisbane Program and Water Resources. The project promotes an integrated catchment management approach to priority areas identified in the Brisbane City Council's Waterways Strategy, in association with communities and local authorities. While some of the creek system is being rehabilitated, a great deal of work will be needed to e

xtend the area to join current sites, and to maintain the rehabilitated areas to prevent their re-infestation with weeds. The Creeks draining this part of the valley are over 23 kilometres in length and feed into Breakfast Creek.

16/06/2026

🌿 Corporate Power Meets Local Conservation! 💚

A huge thank you to the team of nine fantastic corporate volunteers who joined us at Wittonga Park Bushcare Group - The Gap , organized through our amazing friends at Volunteer Queensland!

This wasn’t just a one-off day out—this corporate volunteering day was fully integrated into the group's long-term site plan, ensuring every hour of effort delivered real, lasting environmental outcomes.

🔨 What We Achieved Together:
Saved a Giant: The team removed a massive amount of invasive glycine vine to protect a magnificent Eucalyptus tereticornis. Likely a pre-colonial settlement tree, this remarkable old giant now has the space it deserves to thrive as a crucial habitat hub. 🌳

Full-Cycle Restoration: We planted a range of local native species, all grown right at our own SOWN nursery. It’s a beautiful example of local conservation in action—propagating plants in the nursery and putting them back into the landscape where they belong. 🌱

Boosted the Riparian Zone: The Wittonga Park Bushcare Group meets monthly and has done an incredible job over the years, steadily controlling w**ds and expanding the creek habitat to build a healthier, more resilient environment.

🦎 Proof is in the Wildlife!
One of the best reminders of why this work matters is the native wildlife calling this urban park home. During the working bee, we spotted everything from tiny ladybirds and fascinating praying mantises to an absolutely beautiful blue-tongue lizard!

A big thank you to Brisbane City Council for their ongoing support, and to Volunteering Queensland for creating partnerships that make days like this possible. Together, we're achieving outcomes that would be impossible alone!

15/06/2026

🌳🌿 SAVE THE DATE – NATIONAL TREE DAY 2026 🌿🌳

Join us on Sunday 26 July, from 10am–2pm, at the Paten Park Native Nursery and SOWN Nursery precinct for a fantastic day celebrating National Tree Day and the vital role our creeks play in supporting local wildlife and healthy ecosystems.

🐟 Special Guest Speaker – Steve Baines
Native fish expert, award-winning aquarium designer and author of the popular Rodney Rainbow children's book series.

Steve will present two free talks at:
🕚 11:00am https://f.mtr.cool/xyrjetppuh
🕐 1:00pm https://f.mtr.cool/mdvfooftrn

🐠 ANGFA Display
Meet members of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association and discover the incredible diversity of our native freshwater fish and aquatic plants.

🦇 Bat Conservation & Rescue Qld
Get up close to rescue flying foxes and learn about the important role these misunderstood animals play in our environment.

🌿 SOWN W**d Display
Learn to distinguish environmental w**ds from native plants and discover how invasive species impact our creeks and bushland.

✂️ 12pm Guided W**d Walk
Join SOWN volunteers for a practical demonstration of non-herbicide w**d removal techniques and learn how you can help restore local habitats.

🐞 EcoInsects Display
Discover biological w**d control agents and how beneficial insects can be used to help manage invasive w**ds.

🌱 Men of the Trees
Join in tree planting activities and learn more about restoring local biodiversity.

🌿 Guided Creek Walks
Explore the beautiful creekside vegetation around Paten Park with PPNN volunteer Margo Walter.

🍓 Bush food tastings
🌭 Sausage sizzle
🫐 Native plant jams and condiments for sale
☕ PeekerBoo Coffee Van
🙋 Children's quizzes and craft activities
🪴 Nursery displays and native plant information

A great day out for the whole family and a wonderful opportunity to connect with your local environment.

09/06/2026

🌿🌳 Pangella Springs – A Community Effort Making a Real Difference 🌳🌿

If you've visited Pangella Springs recently, you've probably noticed the incredible transformation taking place. This new bushcare site is located on Chaprowe Rd, next to St Peter Chanel school in The Gap.

Thanks to a huge amount of hard work and the support of our local community, this special place is changing for the better. The environmental w**ds that once dominated the site are disappearing, and an expanded riparian zone is now taking shape. As it grows, it will strengthen the creek banks, improve water quality and help protect the existing native vegetation for years to come.

Projects like this don't happen on their own, and we'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has played a part.

🌱 Cr Toomey for funding the removal of the w**d trees.
🌱 Brisbane City Council for its ongoing support of the creek catchment group program.
🌱 Jonty Bush MP for helping ensure we had all the necessary approvals to undertake this important work.

🌱 And, of course, our own SOWN members and volunteers. The funds raised through our community activities helped cover the movement of mulch, while the countless hours spent working in the nursery produced the locally native plants that are now finding a home at Pangella Springs.

Every w**d removed, every plant grown and every volunteer hour contributed is helping to restore this important creek corridor.

This area will only continue to thrive, and it's a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a community comes together for nature.

Well done to Glenys and her team and thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey. 🌿💚

Cr Steven Toomey Jonty Bush - Member for Cooper

07/06/2026

🦐🪲 WHAT'S LIVING IN OUR CREEKS? 🪲🦐

Ever wondered what lurks beneath the surface of Enoggera Creek?

Join SOWN and The Gap Sustainability Initiative for a hands-on Community Creek Survey and discover the fascinating world of aquatic macroinvertebrates – the tiny creatures that tell us so much about the health of our waterways.

📅 Sunday 21 June
⏰ 9:00am – 11:00am
📍 Fursman Crossing Park, The Gap

Get your hands wet as we:
🔍 Collect and identify creek-dwelling macroinvertebrates
🌿 Learn how these creatures are used to assess water quality
🐛 Discover what they can tell us about the health of Enoggera Creek
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Enjoy a fun and educational morning for all ages

No experience is necessary and all equipment will be provided. Whether you're a budding scientist, nature enthusiast, bushcare volunteer, or simply curious about your local creek, we'd love to see you there.

Come along and discover what's living in our creeks!

The Gap Sustainability Initiative Inc.

05/06/2026

So wonderful to see our local volunteer community recognized on World Environment Day! 🌿

A huge thank you to every single volunteer who gets their hands dirty to keep our neighborhoods green and thriving. Proud to be a part of this amazing community! 🌏💚

02/06/2026

🌿 ROYAL PARADE BUSHCARE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! 🌿

One of Ashgrove's long-established Bushcare groups is entering an exciting new chapter with a new team leader at the helm, and we're looking for some extra hands to help support the group and continue the fantastic work that's been happening at St John's Wood for many years.

Join us for a fun and rewarding morning of bushcare as we work together to restore local habitat, protect native species and care for this beautiful patch of bushland.

📍 Royal Parade, St John's Wood, Ashgrove
🚌 Meet next to the St John's Wood Bus Terminus
📅 Sunday 7 June
⏰ 8:00am – 10:00am

🧤 All equipment provided
🌱 No experience necessary
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 New volunteers warmly welcomed
☕ Great company and a chance to make a real difference

Whether you can spare an hour or stay for the whole morning, your support will help ensure this much-loved Bushcare group continues to thrive for years to come.

Just bring a hat, water bottle, sturdy shoes, plenty of enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference!

Together we can help keep St John's Wood healthy, resilient and full of life. 🌳🦋🐦

31/05/2026

🎈 ANOTHER W**D TO TARGET: BALLOON VINE 🎈

It might look harmless with its papery “balloon” seed pods… but don’t be fooled. Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) is one of the worst invasive vines in the Enoggera catchment, capable of completely smothering native vegetation and collapsing tree canopies under its weight.

With all the recent wet weather and soft soil, now is actually one of the best times to tackle it — even mature vines can often be pulled out far more easily than during drier conditions 🌧️💪

Heavy infestations can be overwhelming, but there’s a simple trick bush regenerators use: give the vine a “haircut”. By cutting the vine at around shoulder height, you can clear access beneath the canopy, move through the infestation safely, and get to the roots where the real work happens ✂️🌿

🔍 How to spot it:
• Fast-growing climbing vine with tendrils
• Leaves divided into groups of three leaflets
• Small white flowers
• Distinctive green “balloon” seed pods that dry brown with age

⚠️ Why it matters:
Balloon Vine spreads rapidly through waterways and bushland, forming dense curtains that block sunlight and choke out native plants. Seeds can survive in the soil for up to 11 years, so stopping it before seeding is critical.

✅ What you can do:
• Pull seedlings and young plants early
• Use the wet conditions to remove mature roots - they pull out easily
• “Haircut” dense infestations for easier access
• Cut and treat vines before they seed
• Never dump garden waste in bushland or creeklines

Every vine removed is more space, sunlight and opportunity for native species to recover 🌱

Learn more here:
https://f.mtr.cool/nwzizeusbq

29/05/2026

🌿 WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND IN THE ENOGGERA CATCHMENT 🌿

Looking to get outdoors, meet great people and make a real difference in the catchment this weekend? We’ve got bushcare and nursery activities happening across the Enoggera catchment 💪🌱

🪴 SATURDAY 30 May
🌱 SOWN Nursery Open — 9am–11am
Open for members (you can join on the spot) to collect plants and tools.

🌿 Corbie Park Bushcare Group Sat 30 May
Join the team along Enoggera Creek helping restore riparian habitat, tackle invasive w**ds and support local wildlife habitat projects including nest boxes for squirrel gliders 🦜🌳 Meet partway between the Ashgrove Avenue bridge and bike path T-junction with Somme Street

Whether you’re an experienced regenerator or completely new to bushcare, there’s always a job for everyone — and plenty of friendly faces to help you get started 😊

✅ Gloves, tools and guidance provided
☕ Great community atmosphere
🌱 Help protect and restore local habitat
🦋 Make a genuine difference to local waterways and wildlife

Check out the full calendar to plan for the future and find an activity near you:
https://f.mtr.cool/chwepnstyw

Photo - The amazing Corbie Park bushcare team!

🌿

26/05/2026

🌻 Japanese Sunflower — Pretty Flower, Serious Problem

Despite the name, Japanese Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) doesn’t come from Japan — it originates from Central America and is rapidly spreading! At least the beautiful flower makes it easy to spot at the moment!

This tall, fast-growing annual can reach over 3 metres high, forming dense infestations that smother native vegetation and dominate disturbed areas. Right now it’s flowering heavily, lighting up roadsides, creek lines, embankments and vacant blocks with bright yellow blooms.

🔍 How to identify it:
• Leaves are hairy with 3 or 5 pointed lobes and a wedge-shaped base, scalloped (crenated)
• Flower heads resemble sunflowers with 4-5 cm long yellow petals and a yellow central disc in small groups at the ends of leafy branches

☠️ Why it matters:
Japanese Sunflower spreads aggressively and quickly outcompetes native plants, reducing habitat quality and biodiversity.

🛠️ Control methods:
• Hand removal for smaller plants
• Cut-and-paint herbicide application for larger infestations
• Avoid foliar spraying near waterways

Every infestation removed now helps prevent thousands more seeds spreading next season.

📸 Learn more:
https://f.mtr.cool/gezccfhlrx

**dAlert **ds

Address

57 Paten Road, The Gap
Brisbane, QLD
4061

Opening Hours

Wednesday	9am - 12:30pm
Saturday	9am - 11am

Website

http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Save Our Waterways Now posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Save Our Waterways Now:

Featured

Armitage Electrical

Want your business to be the top-listed Contractor in Brisbane?