Liege Street Wetland a success

1/8/07
The Liege Street Wetland is reducing the amounts of nutrients entering the Canning River from three urban drains by up to 45 per cent according to the results of an innovative intervention program.
Environment Minister David Templeman said the wetland was part of the State Government's $6million commitment to improve water quality through the Swan River Trust's Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program (DNIP).
"Liege Street Wetland was built in 2004 to filter nutrient-rich water which flowed into the Canning River from 530ha of residential and commercial users in Cannington," Mr Templeman said.
"Before the wetland was built, water flowed through the drains and straight into the river, carrying with it high levels of nutrients and pollutants.
"Now the water flows through a series of traps, open water areas and densely vegetated areas improving its quality through physical, chemical and biological processes."
The Minister said the results showed that since 2005, phosphorus entering the river from the Liege Street Main Drain had dropped by 45 per cent and nitrogen by 27 per cent in low flows.
"More than 70,000 native plants have been returned to the site, with an increase in the number of plant species from 20 to 64," he said.
"The number of birds and breeding pairs at the wetland has also increased, and considering that last year we experienced the driest winter on record, this is a very positive sign of the wetland's ability to support wildlife.
"This is yet another way the Carpenter Government is acting now to protect the future of our precious waterways."
Mr Templeman said Liege Street was the first major initiative of DNIP with future works planned for the Ellen Brook catchment.
The project is a partnership between the Swan River Trust, City of Canning, South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare, Two Rivers Catchment Group, Department of Environment and Conservation and the Water Corporation.
Minister's office - 9220 5050