RIVERSIDE PARKS

During 2010, Sunshine Coast Council, in consultation with local groups and individuals, developed plans for Isaac Moore Park and the Kenilworth Mary River Reserve. These are now in process of realisation with both parks being useful amenities for locals and visitors. The most recent addition to the Mary River Reserve is a carved stone seat celebrating the river and its unique species.

Please note: Parking is available at the east end of Charles street, allowing pedestrian access to the River Reserve - there is no vehicular access.


KENILWORTH MARY RIVER RESERVE SEAT PROJECT

The Sunshine Coast Council funded the design of a park seat to celebrate the Mary River. Details of the project can be seen here (PDF file). The design competition was won by Wayne Markwort - see his website at www.waynemarkwortstone.com. A sketch of the design can be seen here.

This seat is located at the northern end of the Park, overlooking the river.

It is hoped that funding can be found for further projects to install more art works in the Park

Download the Isaac More Park Concept Plan from here (PDF file).

Download the Kenilworth River Park Concept Plan from here (PDF file).

Mary Valley Action Group website: maryvalleyrenewal.org

See the preliminary Mary Valley Community Action Plan


ISAAC MOORE PARK "DESIGNER DUNNY"

For some years Isaac Moore Park had a picnic shelter and electric barbecue but no toilet.

A project to install a toilet and make it a work of art was accepted by the Sunshine Coast Council and $600,000 was allocated, with the design itself carrying a prize of $10,000. Work on the site commenced in March 2019 and was completed in September.

See the Project's Facebook page.


HABITAT CONSERVATION

All wildlife on the Mary is threatened by encroaching human activity. Of particular concern are those species whose habitat is restricted to this River. Of these, the Mary River Lungfish and the Mary River Turtle are critically endangered. The Mary River Turtle was identified as late as 1994 and is the only species in its genus, so loosing it would extinguish the whole genus. This makes it a particular concern of conservation bodies, not only in Australia but across the world. Preventing disturbance of nesting sites on the sandy banks of the River, at Kenilworth and elsewhere, is critical to the survival of this species.

Mary River Turtle research is currently being carried out, at Kenilworth and other locations, in collaboration by the Tairo and District Landcare Group and the University of Queensland, supervised by Marilyn Connell. Data gathering involves catching and releasing turtles over a period of two years.

For more information about Mary River conservation issues please visit these websites:

Tairo and District Landcare Group
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee
Burnett Mary Regional Group

If you have views about Mary River conservation issues please contact Sunshine Coast Division 10 Councillor, Greg Rogerson.


RIVER BANK CONSOLIDATION

From May 2015, remediation work was conducted along the banks of the Mary River at the River Reserve in Kenilworth. Seqwater worked in partnership with Burnett Mary Regional Group, the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee and Sunshine Coast Council. These remediation works intended to stabilise the eroding bank, restore functionality to the Town well and consolidate the River Reserve at Kenilworth.

Works included contouring the river bank, timber piling, earthworks, seeding, matting and tree planting. By August 2015 Landcare had completed planting mondo grass and 5,500 trees on the lower bank area. By November 2016 the planting was well established and the Town water supply secured.

Project Details (PDF document)

In May 2020 further replanting of an area downstream of the Town well was completed and in July major work began on re-contouring the eroding river bank south of the bridge on the Eumundi Road.