Restored wetland to improve river water quality

• Fulfilment of 2013 election commitment to build nutrient-stripping wetland

• Amount of nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into Swan River to decline

Construction of a nutrient-stripping wetland at Bayswater's Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary has started, to improve water quality in the Swan River.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the $3 million project would reduce sediment, rubbish, phosphorus and nitrogen entering the river from the Bayswater Brook while also restoring bird and animal habitat at the degraded sanctuary.

The redeveloped wetland will divert water from the Bayswater Brook into a wetland treatment system.  The water will initially flow through a trap to remove sediment, rubbish and other debris.  It will then flow through open water and vegetated areas to remove nutrients, ultimately improving the quality of the water entering the Swan River.

It is the second wetland to be built by the Liberal-National Government in the past 12 months following construction of the $4.05 million Ellen Brook Wetland.

"The Government made an election commitment in 2013 to build nutrient-stripping wetlands with the highest nutrient contributions in the Swan River sub-catchments  and I am pleased construction of this second project is now under way," Mr Jacob said.

"These wetlands are an effective way to reduce nutrient loads and are part of the Government's solution to ensure the long-term future of the Swan and Canning rivers."

The restored sanctuary will prevent almost 40 tonnes of sediment and rubbish, 1.3 tonnes of nitrogen and 200 kilograms of phosphorus from entering the Swan River.  During construction, 150,000 native plants will be planted in the wetland.

Bayswater resident Eric Singleton, who died in 2011, built the wetland from a disused rubbish tip in the 1970s.  It was declared a reserve in 1977 and has been a significant bird sanctuary for more than 40 years.

The Minister said the sanctuary had become degraded and the restoration work would enhance its ecological value in line with Mr Singleton's vision.

"Once construction and revegetation are complete, we expect to see an increase in the number of birds and animals here," he said.

       Fact File

• The project is jointly funded by the State Government ($1.2 million) and the City of Bayswater ($1.8 million)

• High nutrient loads can contribute to algal blooms in the Swan and Canning rivers

Minister's office - 6552 5800