Government launches major strategic plan for Perth rivers

4/12/06 The Carpenter Government today launched a five-year, $40million plan for the Swan and Canning rivers.

4/12/06
The Carpenter Government today launched a five-year, $40million plan for the Swan and Canning rivers.
Launching the draft Healthy Rivers Action Plan today, Environment Minister Mark McGowan said it marked a new way forward for the future of the waterways.
The draft plan, which will go out for a four-month public comment period, includes a number of new initiatives to improve the health of the rivers and associated catchments.
The draft plan includes:

  • River Health Program - $10.59million;
  • Healthy Catchments Program - $10.59million;
  • Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program - $5.87million;
  • Riverbank Program - $7.36million;
  • Healthy Rivers Action Plan Program co-ordination - $1.7million;
  • Land Use Planning Program - $1.25million;
  • River Science Program - $1.7million; and
  • River Guardians Program - $1.4million.
"The new action plan focuses on reducing nutrients in priority areas and working together to tackle more global issues, such as the impacts of climate change," Mr McGowan said.
"It has been developed from 10 years of solid water quality data, an independent evaluation of the existing program and stakeholder input."
The Minister said the new initiatives would concentrate on more research into fish and crustacean species and further community engagement with the rivers.
"The Swan and Canning rivers are an important part of the Western Australian landmark and people want to help out to keep these magnificent waterways healthy," he said.
"That is why we are starting a new pilot program - River Guardians - to actively engage the Perth community in hands-on activities that protect and restore the Swan and Canning foreshores and waterways.
"The River Guardians program will allow people to volunteer to become river guardians. People interested in pursuing this should contact the Swan River Trust on 9278 0900 to register their interest.
"Another new initiative involving the community is the Healthy Catchments program. This will provide community groups with an additional $2million for onground works such as planting trees, fencing waterways and treating stormwater in the eight highest polluting waterways - Ellen Brook, Canning Plains, Southern River, Bayswater main drain, South Belmont, Bannister Creek, Bickley Brook and Bennett Brook catchments."
Mr McGowan said the plan would also focus on technical research and direct funds to a new program - the River Health initiative - to identify key factors affecting fish and crustacean species including the western school prawn, Perth herring and cobbler.
"This program will see the Swan River Trust working in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and other groups to find ways in which to improve the health and population of these species," he said.
"We will also be spending $700,000 on a River Science initiative to establish better partnerships with universities and research institutions to develop innovative solutions to water quality problems.
"A Technical Advisory Panel will provide guidance and technical advice across all sections of the Swan River Trust as part of this initiative."
The Minister said the Trust would also work with the Peel Harvey Catchment Council to develop innovative approaches to regional issues including climate change and algal blooms, relevant to the Swan Canning and Peel Harvey estuaries.
To comment on the draft action plan, open for public comment to March 31, 2007, log on to http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au/healthyrivers or call the Trust on (08) 9278 0900.
Minister's office - 9222 9111