Bayswater drain to be transformed

• Plan to reduce pollutants entering river from Bayswater drain

• City of Bayswater commended for its participation  

More than 235m of open drain in Morley will be transformed into a 'living stream' to help reduce nutrient loads entering the Swan River, under a $300,000 project announced today by Environment Minister Bill Marmion.

The Weld Square Living Stream - a joint project by the City of Bayswater and Swan River Trust - will re-engineer the Bayswater Brook stormwater drain and plant 39,000 seedlings to help filter and block nutrients from entering the water and eventually ending up in the river.

Mr Marmion said more than 3,700sqm of drainage reserve in the priority Bayswater Brook Catchment would be transformed by the project.

The State Government will provide $150,000 and the City of Bayswater will make a similar contribution in cash and in-kind support.  Planning and design will start early next year.

"The benefits will be substantial.  As well as improving the quality of water that eventually gets into the river system, the living stream wetland will increase biodiversity and enhance the aesthetics and community enjoyment of the local area," the Minister said.

Bayswater Brook flushes an estimated 9.8 tonnes of nitrogen and more than half a tonne of phosphorus into the Swan River each year.

"One of the main contributors to low oxygen conditions and algal blooms in our rivers is the influx of nitrogen and phosphorus, so we need to get this right," Mr Marmion said.

Students from the nearby Weld Square Primary School will be closely involved in the project, helping with planting, weeding and monitoring water quality.

The Minister commended the City of Bayswater for its involvement and said a community-wide effort was needed to address the level of nutrients entering our rivers.

"Whether it is individuals giving their time to rivercare projects, gardeners reducing their fertiliser use, families picking up their litter, or local governments taking on significant projects like this one, we can all play a part in protecting the river for future generations," he said.

      Fact File

• Bayswater Brook is the biggest urban catchment

  • Has longest drainage network in Perth metropolitan area

• This is the fourth living stream project in Bayswater Brook Catchment 

Minister's office - 6552 6800