A native fish species not seen in Petrie Creek for more than 20 years has been recorded again. It's an early sign native fish are returning to parts of the creek once cut off by weirs.
Two new fishways are being built in Petrie Creek at Nambour on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Funded through the Australian Government's Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the fishways will help native fish move past the weirs between the lower and upper parts of the creek.
The first fishway, at Quota Park, was completed in late 2025. Monitoring in May 2026 recorded juvenile jungle perch, the first confirmed sighting of the species in Petrie Creek in more than 20 years.
Once complete, the 2 fishways will reconnect 217 kilometres of fish habitat in Petrie Creek. Fish passage past the weirs is expected to increase from an average of 1.8 days a year to up to 314 days a year.
Removing barriers to movement
The Quota Park and Moreton Mill weirs were originally built to support recreation and the local sugar industry.
Over time, these structures blocked the movement of migratory fish and other native aquatic species.
Species affected included:
- long-finned eel
- Australian bass
- freshwater mullet
- sea mullet
- empire gudgeon.
Before the new fishways were built, these species could usually move upstream only during major rainfall events.
This restricted access to hundreds of kilometres of habitat upstream. Fish had fewer opportunities to feed, breed and find shelter during difficult conditions.
Building fishways
Instead of removing the weirs, the project has added rock-ramp fishways. These structures create a series of gradual steps that fish can swim through. They also maintain existing water levels behind the weirs.
Project milestones include:
- Late 2025: Quota Park fishway completed.
- Early 2027: Moreton Mill fishway expected to be completed.
Together, the fishways will allow fish to move through the creek for most of the year, rather than only during high flows.
A healthier creek
Better connectivity will help native fish reach important habitat for breeding, feeding and refuge. Over time, this is expected to support healthier fish populations.
The benefits go beyond fish. Improved connectivity will also support species such as:
- platypus
- turtles
- waterbirds.
This will help strengthen the overall health and resilience of the creek ecosystem.
This project shows how existing infrastructure can be adapted to improve river health. Targeted investment can reconnect waterways, boost biodiversity and strengthen urban environments without removing long-standing infrastructure.
The $2 million Reviving Petrie Creek project is funded by the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust through the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program. It is being delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council.
