The Brisbane City Council hopes 15 environmental projects can revitalise bushland across the city and improve the health of the its rivers.
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South east Queensland's waterways were given poor ratings in the 2014 Healthy Waterways Report Card, with assessors giving the Brisbane River near the CBD a D-minus freshwater grade.
Eight environmental rehabilitation projects were announced on Thursday, adding to another seven that were earlier confirmed by the federal government.
The initiatives include work at the Banks Street Reserve in Alderley, koala bushlands at Burbank, Kedron Brook at Stafford and the Ithaca Creek at Bardon.
The projects will be completed by the participants of the federal government's Green Army program, which has been allocated $525 million for projects across the country between 2014 and 2018.
Each initiative runs for 26 weeks and is carried out by of 17 to 24 year-olds looking for training in environmental and heritage conservation fields.
Speaking at the Banks Street Reserve, Brisbane City Councillor Matthew Bourke said the council spent $4 million each year on bushland maintenance.
"The opportunity here for employment as well as education, skills, and training being provided in our community is the big benefit," he said.
"The water quality in the city of Brisbane is something we pride ourselves on. Water that runs off this particular bushland makes its way into our creeks, into the river, and ultimately into the Moreton Bay area."
The Healthy Waterways group which assesses the state of South east Queensland's rivers and creeks is made up of scientific experts, government officials and departments and water industry members.
Their 2014 report noted a decline in the health of the region's waterways.
"The major issue affecting waterway health in South East Queensland continues to be the increasing amount of mud entering our waterways," they wrote.
"In order to protect and improve waterway health, we need to manage runoff from expanding urban areas, plant native vegetation along degraded waterways and protect existing riverbank vegetation."
There are 147 Green Army projects across Queensland, each one reciveing about $192,000 from the federal government. Each project team comprises one supervisor and nine members.
"This is truly an incredible and unique opportunity to help the environment and help young people with jobs," federal Brisbane MP Teresa Gambaro said.
Green Army projects in Brisbane:
- Banks Street Reserve (Commenced)
- Salisbury Recreation Reserve (Commenced)
- Brisbane Koala Bushlands (Commenced)
- Kedron Brook (To commence mid-year)
- Ithaca Creek (To commence mid-year)
- Deagon Wetlands Fourth Lagoon (To commence mid-year)
- Tingalpa Creek Reserve (To commence mid-year)
- Beryl Roberts Park, Sunnybank (To commence mid-year to September)
- Lawson Street Park, Oxley (To commence mid-year to September)
- Paten Road Park, The Gap (To commence mid-year to September)
- Old Northern Road Park, Everton Park (To commence mid-year to September)
- Ashgrove Scenic Reserve, Ashgrove (To commence mid-year to September)
- Anstead Bushland, Anstead (To commence mid-year to September)
- Old Northern Road Park, McDowall (To commence mid-year to September)
- Granard Wetlands, Rocklea (To commence mid-year to September)
