Chris Paterson has been named Citizen of the Year in the City of Moreton Bay 2026 Australia Day Awards for founding Bamboo Projects, a charity that employs people with disabilities to clean Caboolture and Pine rivers.
The Caboolture waterway restoration program combines environmental clean-up with inclusive employment, using accessible boats that accommodate workers living with disabilities or mental health challenges. Paterson’s team has removed over 80 tonnes of marine debris from local rivers while providing meaningful work and dignity to people often excluded from traditional employment.
Cleaning Caboolture River While Creating Jobs
Chris Paterson’s Bamboo Projects operates along the Caboolture and Pine river corridors, removing debris that accumulates in waterways while employing people who face barriers to standard employment. The accessible boats allow workers with varying physical abilities to participate in restoration work.
The program has cleared over 80 tonnes of rubbish from local rivers, restoring water quality and riverbank health across Moreton Bay waterways. Beyond environmental benefits, the work provides employees with regular income, structure and purpose that traditional workplaces often fail to offer people with disabilities.
Paterson personally volunteers more than 30 hours weekly through Bamboo Projects, mentoring participants and supporting community members facing difficulties. His approach draws from lived experience, creating genuine belonging rather than token inclusion.
The charity demonstrates how environmental restoration can solve multiple community challenges simultaneously. Cleaner waterways benefit everyone using Caboolture and Pine rivers, while employment opportunities support people society frequently marginalises.
What This Means for Caboolture
The City of Moreton Bay Australia Day Awards recognise locals strengthening communities through sustained volunteer work and innovation. Unlike national honours, these council awards celebrate grassroots contributions happening within Moreton Bay’s suburbs and waterways.
For Caboolture residents, Chris Paterson’s Citizen of the Year recognition highlights how local environmental challenges can become opportunities for social inclusion. The Caboolture River clean-up directly benefits everyone who lives near, fishes in, or recreates along the waterway, while simultaneously addressing unemployment among people with disabilities.
Paterson’s 30-plus weekly volunteer hours demonstrate commitment beyond running a charity. His hands-on mentoring approach means participants receive genuine support rather than just employment paperwork, creating lasting relationships that help people rebuild confidence alongside cleaning rivers.
Published 28-January-2026.
