Perth Voice Interactive

AFTER years of delays Hyde Park’s restoration is almost finished.

Last Friday federal Perth Labor MP Stephen Smith and Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan launched the lakes’ sparkling new look, but the all-important “bio-filter” to help keep the water clean is not yet installed.

Ms MacTiernan says the works will help stop water levels fall in summer, when the lakes often turned into half-dry swamps.

“The restoration funds have been focused on helping fauna and vegetation to flourish,” she says.

So far $3.16 million has been spent on the project and the mayor says the “soft scape” works that remain will be completed without blowing out the full $3.5m budget.

The focus of replanting is on native species, and with the council’s ability to pump groundwater curtailed by WaterCorp, it will now be able to rely on rainfall to keep the lakes alive.

“We at last have a tangible result for Hyde Park,” Ms MacTiernan says.

“The masterplan has been put into action, within budget, and we have a lake that retains its ornamental beauty while requiring less water.”

The bio-filter will be funded by the council, with the landscaping and revegetation paid for by the federal government’s Water for the Future initiative, WaterCorp and Bendigo Bank.

by ROWENA HAMILTON