New fishing platforms to protect Perth's rivers

05/12/04
The State Government has begun a trial of new fishing platforms to protect the health of the Swan and Canning rivers, brought about by extra funding under the Swan River Trust's Riverbank program.
Environment Minister Judy Edwards today inspected one of the platforms at Zenith Park in Shelley, which provides controlled access to prevent further damage to the foreshore.
"When there is erosion and loss of native vegetation, more nutrients can enter the river system and fuel algal blooms," Dr Edwards said.
"Under this project, funded in partnership with the City of Canning, riverbanks and the habitats they support will be protected while enabling anglers to continue fishing along the Swan and Canning rivers.

"Organisations including Recfishwest, the Volunteer Fisheries Liaison Officers, the Fishing School, Melville Amateur Angling Club and Fishing Western Australia magazine support the trial and encourage anglers to use the platforms.
"The Canning River Residents Environmental Protection Association has been restoring and protecting the river foreshore for many years and was instrumental in the project's development."
The Minister said other catchment and local environment groups had also been successful in applying for Riverbank funding to stabilise foreshores, halt erosion, improve habitats and repair river walls.
"Other projects include revegetation and the construction of rock walls at Riverside Road in East Fremantle and a new vegetation program at Banks Reserve in East Perth," she said.
"Smaller projects include the creation of a fish-breeding habitat at Kelmscott Primary School.
"Funding will be matched by State and local governments and community groups, and many projects include in-kind support from other project partners.
"The Riverbank program was designed to enhance the environmental, cultural and public amenity values of the foreshores, and ensure the rivers can be enjoyed by everyone now and in the future with minimal impact on the environment.
"It is part of $15million in extra funding for the Swan River Trust, enabled by the Gallop Government's four balanced budgets in a row and strong economic management."
Minister's office: 9220 5050

Projects approved for Riverbank funding 2004-05

Location	Description	Project leader	Project partners	Funding
Canning River Regional Park, Cannington	Riverbank stabilisation and habitat enhancement to improve ecosystem structure and function.	Department of Conservation and Land Management	Two Rivers Catchment Group	$12,100
Canning River Foreshore, Mt Pleasant	Riverbank stabilisation, habitat enhancement, and increased aesthetic and public amenity value.	City of Melville	Bicton Attadale Mt Pleasant Foreshore Alliance (BAMFA)	$100,683
JH Abrahams Reserve, Crawley	Riverwall repairs.	City of Subiaco	Nil	$39,111
Hinds Reserve and Riverside Gardens, Bayswater	Enhancement of environmental and aesthetic values to promote eco-recreation with overall area to be developed as recreational activity node.	City of Bayswater	North East Catchment Committee and local schools.	$74,806
Riverside Road Carpark, East Fremantle	Rock revetment construction and revegetation to mitigate riverbank erosion and enhance public amenity and aesthetic values.	Town of East Fremantle	Nil	$39,600
Blackwall Reach, Bicton	Blackwall Reach and Bicton foreshore rehabilitation to improve environmental, cultural, aesthetic and public amenity value.	Bicton Environmental Action Group	City of Melville	$6,900
Beatrice Avenue Foreshore, Shelley	Habitat enhancement around popular waterbird roosting site.	Canning River Residents Environmental Protection Association	City of Canning	$830
Jacqueline Drive Foreshore, Thornlie	Rehabilitation of riparian zone to establish corridor between wetland and river.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Gosnells and local residents	$5,430
Agostino Road, Kelmscott	Rehabilitation and revegetation of a degraded section of the Canning River in Roleystone to enhance environmental values.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Armadale and local residents	$3,655
Corriedale Place, Thornlie	Weed control and revegetation around permanent spring and surrounding area to enhance environmental values adjacent to river.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Gosnells, local residents and school group	$3,257
Fancote Park, Kelmscott	Rehabilitation of a degraded waterway to stabilise riverbanks and create habitat diversification.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Armadale, local residents and Australian Geographic	$7,116
Huntingdale Foreshore, Huntingdale	Rehabilitation and revegetation of degraded section of the Southern river.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Gosnells, Girl Guides, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Bushrangers and local residents	$3,470
John Oakey Davis Park, Gosnells	Rehabilitation of riparian vegetation to improve environmental values.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Gosnells, Melville Amateur Angling Club, local residents and school group	$7,814
Kelmscott Primary School, Kelmscott	Creation of fish and frog breeding habitat to improve environmental values and provide educational resource for local school.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Armadale and Kelmscott Primary School	$2,062
Roley Pools, Roleystone	Improved environmental values of Roley Pools.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Armadale and local residents	$3,672
Royal Street Foreshore, Thornlie	Rehabilitation of riparian zone to improve environmental values.	Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group	City of Gosnells, local residents and school group	$3,540
Burke Drive Foreshore, Attadale	Rehabilitation of Attadale foreshore to improve ecological structure and function, recognising the importance of the site as a migratory bird habitat.	Friends of Attadale Foreshore Inc.	Department of Conservation and Land Management	$5,250
TOTAL				$319,296

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