Millions invested in river care

• Joint investment in Healthy Rivers Action Plan tops $14million in 2011-12 
• Government, councils and volunteers working together to protect Perth rivers

More than two million native seedlings have been planted in the Swan Canning Riverpark in the first four years of the State Government's five-year Healthy Rivers Action Plan (HRAP).

The HRAP was adopted in 2008 as a five-year, $40million plan to protect the environmental health and amenity of the Swan and Canning rivers.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion told State Parliament today that the revegetation activities to reduce nutrient loads entering the rivers were among many river protection activities being undertaken in partnership with local governments, landcare groups and thousands of community volunteers.

"In 2011-12 alone, collaborative activities under the HRAP to reduce nutrients in the rivers included 74 on-ground projects, with more than 781,000 native seedlings planted and some 70ha of weed control," Mr Marmion said.

"We often hear about the problems in the rivers, yet seldom hear about the huge effort being made to improve our rivers, which we all know face stresses from a drying climate and a growing population."

Releasing the Swan River Trust's achievements report for the HRAP's fourth year,  the Minister said more than $7.7million was invested by the State Government in HRAP programs and activities in 2011-12.  Another $7.2million was invested (cash and in-kind) by local governments, community groups, industry sponsors, Natural Resource Management groups and volunteers.

The HRAP is delivered through eight programs that form a 'catchment to coast' approach to reducing contaminants from catchments; intercepting pollutants from tributaries and drains; and applying river intervention techniques such as oxygenation to improve water quality.

In the first four years of the HRAP, nine local Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIPs) were prepared and adopted in priority catchments that contribute high levels of nutrients to the Swan and Canning rivers, triggering a range of new activities with funding support from the trust. 

"Priorities this year include progressing projects in the Bannister Creek WQIP; finalising a WQIP for Bull Creek; constructing an end-of-catchment wetland treatment system at Ellen Brook; finalising design for the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary constructed wetland; and building a third oxygenation plant on the Canning River and upgrading the two existing plants," Mr Marmion said.

      Fact File

• In first four years of HRAP, $32million has been invested by the State Government
• Triggering an estimated $18million (cash and in-kind) contribution by project partners
• More information:  http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au/HRAP/

Minister's office - 6552 6800