The Brisbane River has flowed for over 400 million years. The catchment of the Brisbane River has overcome phases of flood and drought while its origins altered as the surrounding land changed overtime.In 1823, John Oxley entered the river for the first time. At the time the river appeared clean and unpolluted. Oxley immediately recognised the rivers potential as a site for new settlement, through his recommendation the city of Brisbane was established in 1825. The Brisbane River extends inland for 300km reaching its source at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. The rivers catchment occupies an area of approximately 30,000km2 and releases it waters into Moreton Bay. The once pristine waters were used as a source of drinking water and recreational purposes. Industries saw the river as a cheap and efficient source for waste discharge. Before road links were established with Sydney the river held the only form of transport including trade. The Brisbane River was and still is the cities most valuable asset for both recreational, relaxational and transportational purposes. Throughout the past century the Brisbane River has been over used and polluted. The river basin has provided fertile agricultural and grazing lands, and suitable catchment sites for damming purposes. The advantages the river presented were carelessly exploited, to an extent self reparation seemed impossible. Today, the Brisbane River has experience substancial modification to satisfy the requirements of the increasing population. Through extensive public awarness promotions the river gained political support in the form of anti-polution acts. The responsibility of water quality control in the Brisbane now rests in the hands of the Queensland Parliament which passed two acts designed to protect the river from pollutants. These include: the Pollution of Waters by Oil Act of 1973 and the Clean Waters Act of 1971.Through increasing public awarness and involvement the...
