Western Australian Heritage Icons 2004: Connecting A Community

PREMIER'S MEDIA STATEMENT

13/01/04

Swan River declared first 175th heritage icon with multi-million dollar boost

The Swan and Canning rivers are set to benefit from a major funding boost aimed at preserving and protecting the waterways for generations to come.

Premier Geoff Gallop said an extra $15million would be spent over the next four years on projects such as restoring river foreshores and stripping algae-producing nutrients from drains flowing into the river system.

Dr Gallop said planning was also under way for the creation of a new Swan River Park to recognise the iconic status of the Swan and Canning rivers.

A new Swan River Act would also be introduced to give greater powers to the Swan River Trust, the agency charged with protecting the river.

At the unveiling of the new environmental package today, the Premier also declared the Swan River to be Western Australia's first official heritage icon, as part of this year's 175th anniversary of the founding of the Swan River Colony.

Dr Gallop also acknowledged the significance to Aboriginal people of the Swan and Canning river system and its status as a heritage site.

"The Swan and Canning rivers are environmental, cultural and historic icons - they are the crowning glory of our beautiful city," he said.

"The river system is valued by all Western Australians and the initiatives I am announcing today will ensure that it is properly managed and preserved for future generations."

The Premier said the Swan River Park would include the waterways and crown land in the existing Swan River Trust Management area.

Giving a greater mandate to the Swan River Trust through new legislation was vital in ensuring that the river system was managed in an integrated way.

"The Swan and Canning rivers are a complex, integrated ecological system and they must be managed as such," Dr Gallop said.

"Under the new legislation, the Swan River Trust will be vested with clear responsibilities and powers for managing and protecting the health of the river system.

"This will ensure that the Government's river and catchment management initiatives are properly co-ordinated."

Environment Minister Judy Edwards said water drainage was one of the key issues the new legislation would tackle.

"We need to ensure that drains not only discharge water out of the landscape but are designed and maintained to remove nutrients before they enter the river," Dr Edwards said.

The programs to receive increased funding under the new $15million package include:

Riverbank foreshore protection and restoration: The Government will provide $4million - a boost of an extra $3.5million - over the next four years to the Riverbank program, whereby the Swan River Trust works with local government to restore river foreshore, beaches and wetland areas, including through the construction and maintenance of retaining walls.

Drain rehabilitation and nutrient stripping works: Drains are a major source of nutrients entering the rivers, particularly during low flow periods when nutrient-rich groundwater is discharged. The Government will provide an extra $4million over the next four years for nutrient-stripping works, including the reengineering of drains to reduce nutrient discharges, the creation of nutrient stripping wetlands, the restoration of tributary vegetation and the use of Phoslock and other materials which remove nutrients. This is on top of a one-off $750,000 allocation made in 2003-04.

River, catchment and drain monitoring programs: Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, the Government will provide an extra $1.35million to extend programs which monitor nutrient, phytoplankton and non-nutrient contamination levels in waterways, catchment areas and drains.

Community-based nutrient reduction works and programs: The Government will provide an extra $1.25million over five years for catchment groups which implement nutrient reduction works aimed at improving water quality. Such works include the rehabilitation and revegetation of river foreshores, catchments, wetlands, drains and compensating basins. The extra funds will boost the Swan River Trust's contribution to the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program to $350,000 a year, building on Alcoa funds of $200,000 a year.

Next month, the Swan River Trust will start discussions with local governments, Aboriginal groups, community catchment groups, river user groups, business and the wider community concerning the proposal to create a Swan River Park and a new Swan River Act.

More Media Releases may be viewed on the Government of Western Australia's website.

Home \| Fact Sheet \| Nomination Form \| Media Statements \| Official 2004 Icons \| In the News
	Western Australian Heritage Icons 2004: Connecting A Community PREMIER'S MEDIA STATEMENT 13/01/04 Swan River declared first 175th heritage icon with multi-million dollar boost The Swan and Canning rivers are set to benefit from a major funding boost aimed at preserving and protecting the waterways for generations to come. Premier Geoff Gallop said an extra $15million would be spent over the next four years on projects such as restoring river foreshores and stripping algae-producing nutrients from drains flowing into the river system. Dr Gallop said planning was also under way for the creation of a new Swan River Park to recognise the iconic status of the Swan and Canning rivers. A new Swan River Act would also be introduced to give greater powers to the Swan River Trust, the agency charged with protecting the river. At the unveiling of the new environmental package today, the Premier also declared the Swan River to be Western Australia's first official heritage icon, as part of this year's 175th anniversary of the founding of the Swan River Colony. Dr Gallop also acknowledged the significance to Aboriginal people of the Swan and Canning river system and its status as a heritage site. "The Swan and Canning rivers are environmental, cultural and historic icons - they are the crowning glory of our beautiful city," he said. "The river system is valued by all Western Australians and the initiatives I am announcing today will ensure that it is properly managed and preserved for future generations." The Premier said the Swan River Park would include the waterways and crown land in the existing Swan River Trust Management area. Giving a greater mandate to the Swan River Trust through new legislation was vital in ensuring that the river system was managed in an integrated way. "The Swan and Canning rivers are a complex, integrated ecological system and they must be managed as such," Dr Gallop said. "Under the new legislation, the Swan River Trust will be vested with clear responsibilities and powers for managing and protecting the health of the river system. "This will ensure that the Government's river and catchment management initiatives are properly co-ordinated." Environment Minister Judy Edwards said water drainage was one of the key issues the new legislation would tackle. "We need to ensure that drains not only discharge water out of the landscape but are designed and maintained to remove nutrients before they enter the river," Dr Edwards said. The programs to receive increased funding under the new $15million package include: Riverbank foreshore protection and restoration: The Government will provide $4million - a boost of an extra $3.5million - over the next four years to the Riverbank program, whereby the Swan River Trust works with local government to restore river foreshore, beaches and wetland areas, including through the construction and maintenance of retaining walls. Drain rehabilitation and nutrient stripping works: Drains are a major source of nutrients entering the rivers, particularly during low flow periods when nutrient-rich groundwater is discharged. The Government will provide an extra $4million over the next four years for nutrient-stripping works, including the reengineering of drains to reduce nutrient discharges, the creation of nutrient stripping wetlands, the restoration of tributary vegetation and the use of Phoslock and other materials which remove nutrients. This is on top of a one-off $750,000 allocation made in 2003-04. River, catchment and drain monitoring programs: Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, the Government will provide an extra $1.35million to extend programs which monitor nutrient, phytoplankton and non-nutrient contamination levels in waterways, catchment areas and drains. Community-based nutrient reduction works and programs: The Government will provide an extra $1.25million over five years for catchment groups which implement nutrient reduction works aimed at improving water quality. Such works include the rehabilitation and revegetation of river foreshores, catchments, wetlands, drains and compensating basins. The extra funds will boost the Swan River Trust's contribution to the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program to $350,000 a year, building on Alcoa funds of $200,000 a year. Next month, the Swan River Trust will start discussions with local governments, Aboriginal groups, community catchment groups, river user groups, business and the wider community concerning the proposal to create a Swan River Park and a new Swan River Act. More Media Releases may be viewed on the Government of Western Australia's website.
Home \| Fact Sheet \| Nomination Form \| Media Statements \| Official 2004 Icons \| In the News