Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER city council has awarded a $2.9 million tender for a nutrients-stripping wetland at the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary.

It is part of a joint project with the Swan River Trust to be ensure the long-term health of the wetlands.

It is estimated the work, scheduled to start in summer, will prevent around 40 tonnes of general rubbish, 1.3 tonnes of nitrogen and 200kg of phosphorous from entering the river every year.

These nutrients contribute to the formation of toxic algal blooms.

As part of the project, water from Bayswater Brook will be diverted to run through the sanctuary. It will flow through a trap that removes sand, rubbish and any other large materials before entering the wetland to flow through alternating deep and shallow vegetated marshes to aid nutrient removal.

“Since the 1980s there have been reports of algal blooms in the wetland, additionally it has been required to be filled with bore water,” says Bayswater mayor Sylvan Albert.

“The poor ecological condition of the site means that there are currently far less numbers and species of birds than would be expected to occur at the site.”

John Williams, Friends of Lightning Swamp president, says the wetlands will need ongoing monitoring: “Past investigation and tests highlight the Bayswater drain which feeds into Eric Singleton Wetlands is a major contributor of pollutants,” he says. “A project like this needs continual monitoring after completion and on-going works to maintain the optimum result of lowering nutrients.”