Oxley Creek (Queensland)
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Oxley Creek is situated in south east Queensland, Australia and is one of the major tributaries of the Brisbane River with an estimated 260 square kilometres in area. Water from the catchment area flows into Oxley Creek as it flows through the low hills in Beaudesert Shire, and other local government areas of Logan City, Ipswich and into Brisbane.
Oxley Creek is crossed by the Ipswich Motorway and Logan Motorway. In the suburbs of Oxley, Corinda and Tennyson the lower reaches of the creek contain the Oxley Creek Canoe Trail and are bordered by houses, parks, a driving range and sports fields. In these areas it is heavily polluted. These winding areas for the creek's catchment are prone to flooding, especially if there is an overflow on the Rocklea flood plains from the tributary Stable Swamp Creek.
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[edit] Tributaries
Tributaries of Oxley Creek include: Crewes Creek; Blunder Creek; Sheep Station Gully; Stable Swamp Creek; Rocky Water Holes Creek; Little Doris Creek; and Moolabin Creek.
The headwaters of Oxley Creek begin on the northern slopes of Mount Perry, south of Ipswich, in Beaudesert Shire. From here, the creek flows northwards about 70 kilometres, eventually discharging into the Brisbane River at Tennyson.
Oxley Creek's upper catchment is sparsely populated and largely natural, with forested hills and grazing land. However, in other parts of the catchment, urban development has had great impact. In the middle and lower catchment, Oxley Creek and it's tributaries flow through 28 Brisbane suburbs including Algester, Corinda, Darra, Durack, Forest Lake, Moorooka, Salisbury, Sunnybank Hills, Graceville and Sherwood. Major industrial areas of Acacia Ridge, Coopers Plains and Rocklea are located in the catchment, as well as waste water treatment plants at Oxley and Inala, and the vicinity of Archerfield Airport.
[edit] Environmental concerns
Residential and industry development, land clearing and sand mining in the catchment have greatly affected the water quality of Oxley Creek, particularly in its lower reaches. Key environmental issues that face the catchment are:
- Rapid population increase and development;
- Altered flow patterns of the Creek causing active erosion;
- Deteriorating water quality;
- Increased noise and vehicle movements;
- Waste disposal;
- Invasion of bushland by exotic plants and animals;
- Management of the extractive industries; and
- Day-to-day behaviour of residents and workers of the catchment.
