Platypus conservation efforts are underway in the Sumner catchment, as community volunteers, researchers, and local officials focus on restoring Bullockhead Creek habitat.
Survey Confirms Urban Breeding Activity
Recent research along Bullockhead Creek—flowing through the suburbs of Sumner, Wacol, Forest Lake and Richlands—has confirmed signs of breeding platypuses despite increasing urbanisation. Wildlife Queensland’s PlatypusWatch team, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales, carried out a week-long fyke netting survey at twelve sites, primarily in Wacol, where two male platypuses were captured—one being a juvenile.
Habitat Under Pressure from Development
Bullockhead Creek is surrounded by industrial and residential zones. Pollution, sedimentation, and modified water flows continue to place stress on aquatic wildlife. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling in previous years had detected platypus presence, prompting the need for physical population surveys to better assess activity and habitat use.
Evidence of Long-Distance Movement
One of the captured adult males had previously been recorded more than 20 kilometres away in Moggill Creek in 2020. This observation highlights the ability of the species to travel across catchments and reinforces the importance of maintaining ecological connectivity between waterways to support population resilience and genetic diversity.
Community-Driven Regeneration Efforts
More than 2,500 native seedlings were planted by volunteers along Bullockhead Creek to improve habitat conditions. The work, carried out in collaboration with BCC, aims to enhance shade, stabilise creek banks, and improve shelter and water quality for aquatic species. These efforts occurred primarily within Wacol, but benefit the broader catchment area, including downstream sections in Sumner.
Local Advocacy and Education
Ongoing collaboration between council representatives, environmental organisations, and local communities continues to support conservation activities within the Wolston Catchment. Local official Sarah Hutton has been involved in supporting platypus monitoring and education programs since 2023.
Next Steps in Platypus Protection
Samples from both platypuses have been collected for genetic and health analysis, contributing to long-term monitoring of Brisbane’s urban platypus populations.
Residents across the catchment, including Sumner, are encouraged to report sightings, join planting days, and support efforts to phase out enclosed yabby traps. These actions help sustain the ecological health of Bullockhead Creek and the suburbs it passes through.
Published 12-June-2025