The Swan Canning Riverpark will continue to receive a healthy boost with the State Government investing $3 million towards projects that aim to protect and enhance the Swan and Canning Rivers.
The funding will be distributed amongst four programs: Healthy Catchments, Rivers and Estuaries Science, Riverbank and Community Engagement.
The overall aim is to enhance environmental, recreational and cultural values in the Swan Canning Riverpark.
The Healthy Catchments Program has been allocated $710,000 to reduce nutrient inputs into the river through community-led restoration projects such as the highly successful Swan Alcoa Landcare Program.
To date the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program has led to about 2.6 million seedlings being planted to revegetate nearly 2,000 hectares of degraded land in the Swan and Canning Rivers’ catchments.
The Rivers and Estuaries Science Program will receive just under $1.3 million to assist with the operational costs of two oxygenation plants which provide vital oxygen relief to areas that can have reduced water quality. The program also includes monitoring.
The Riverbank Program, now in its seventeenth year, will receive $900,000 towards its overall program budget of $1 million to improve the condition of shorelines and enhance biodiversity, protect infrastructure and the social amenity values of the Riverpark.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions will continue to educate the Perth community through its Community Engagement Program, which will receive funding of $110,000. The program includes initiatives such as the River Guardian Program, Dolphin Watch and the Reel it in fishing line bin project.
For further information on programs in the Swan Canning Riverpark, visit: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management/swan-canning-riverpark
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Swan and Canning Rivers are wonderful assets that not only include environmental values, but offer recreational and cultural values that stretch back tens of thousands of years with the traditional custodians of this land, the Noongar people.
“The McGowan Labor Government is committed to protecting these rivers and this $3 million of funding across four projects will help protect and enhance the Swan Canning Riverpark.
“It’s not just environmental protection, but also on-the-ground site works, restoration and community engagement.
“This funding will make sure the programs can continue to operate successfully to ensure the Swan Canning Riverpark will thrive for years to come and will continue to be treasured and enjoyed by many more generations to come.”
