Let the water flow
by Trish Swindells

THE floods in February brought home to us the importance of erosion control for creeks and hillsides. Precious topsoil ended up in the ocean and cleared steep slopes slipped alarmingly. The cheapest, most effective way to prevent this is to plant trees, shrubs and grasses which grow naturally on the Sunshine Coast. Millions of years of evolution have perfected the ability of some plants to resist flooding and keep their roots firmly in the ground.

Black Bean, the emblem of Maroochy Shire, is a first rate stabiliser of creek banks. The few remaining mature specimens around Palmwoods do a splendid job holding stream banks firm by binding the soil with their large root system. The graceful Casuarina cunninghamiana, or River She-Oak, is also a common tree found along the freshwater creeks of Queensland. Its spreading root system reinforces the soil in much the same way steel rods reinforce concrete. Lilly Pillys always look at home creekside, and Syzygium floribundum, Weeping Lilly Pilly, is no exception. The drooping branches of this elegant tree may be seen overhanging watercourses, making it a good choice for creek plantings. Creek Sandpaper Fig, Ficus coronata, will bend with the flow of a flooded stream but keeps its roots faithfully embeded in the soil. Lomandra hystrix and Lomandra longifolia, clump forming plants, can hold fast in the fiercest of floods and can be completely submerged by the raging torrent, only to spring back to shape once the water subsides. If you are a melaleuca fan, Melaleuca bracteata grows naturally in moist situations and can withstand inundation by flooding. Revegetating creek banks improves water quality, oxygenates water, secures the land, gives wildlife a home, and by doing so enriches our lives.