The projects have stopped tonnes of sediment and silt being eroded and washed down stream into homes, the city, the port and Moreton Bay each year, Mr Stephens said.

“These projects have experienced multiple high-flow events in the last seven years and demonstrated resilience every time, providing clear proof that this approach works.

“By proactively managing land upstream, we can mitigate the impacts of severe events on the river catchment and on Moreton Bay.

“We would love to see local, state and federal governments prioritise this because it’s good for the environment and, at scale, could make a material impact on the damage mud and silt from the river can cause during flood events.”

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He said the solutions to the problems revealed in the 2011 floods were demonstrated to work in 2022.

“Infrastructure charges on port developments that would usually result in stormwater management projects at the port itself, is instead redirected to erosion management projects further upstream,” he said.

“Managing this issue upstream – instead of at the river mouth where the port is located – has a far more material impact in managing stormwater and sediment runoff into the river and bay.”

Healthy, Land and Water chief executive officer Julie McLellan repeated her call to “flip the funding model” so governments paid for proactive flood mitigation instead of disaster payments alone.

“This project site is indicative with the many reports we have collected in our rapid post flood assessment showing areas where we have been worked, held up during the recent floods,” Ms McLellan said.

“It shows that active and targeted investment in flood preparedness greatly increases resilience and will be instrumental in reducing the impact of future extreme events.

“And let’s be candid – more extreme events are on the cards as a result of climate change.”

In Brisbane, at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner Brisbane City Council have transformed Norman Creek from a fast-flowing spoon drain into slow-flowing sympathetically planted wetlands.

Some nearby residents said the work saved their homes from floods, while others further upstream at Annerley said they experienced first-time flooding.

Fiona Cameron, from Woolloongabba said the plantings at Hanlon Park slowed the water flow and stopped her home from flooding.

“My neighbours and I agree that this redevelopment of the park saved us, “Ms Cameron said.

“We are all amazed at how well the planting stood up,” she said.

Ms Cameron said she believed Hanlon Park was a good lesson for planners to revegetate, but not build over, water courses.

“Many locals who have lived in Woolloongabba for a long time have noticed there as more and more concrete goes up, the water levels have gone up as well,” she said.

However, about two kilometres upstream, at the Annerley Football Club, resident Tammy Economides said the floodwater flowed faster, covered a wider area and was deeper than previous floods.

“There was a current on the field, as opposed to just where the channel is,” Ms Economides said.

She said the stormwater at Annerley flooded regularly and attracted lots of young people to look at the floodwaters.

“We’re assuming that because they have done it down there, they will come up here to slow it down,” she said.