❓ Mr. Alban asks for an update on the Ellen Brook wetland project. Minister Jacob provides details on the project's progress, including funding, construction plans, and nutrient reduction strategies.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELLEN BROOK WETLAND PROJECT
853. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for
Environment:
Can the minister please update the
house on the progress of the Ellen Brook wetland project?
853. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for
Environment:
Can the minister please update the
house on the progress of the Ellen Brook wetland project?
AnswerView source ↗
Certainly. In answering a question
last week about publishing results of survey work done of the Swan River, I
caught interjections from members opposite about what we are doing in and
around nutrient inflows into the Swan and Canning Rivers system, so I thought
this would be a very good opportunity to update the house on some of the work
we are doing in this space.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the first time. I do
not want to hear any more interjections. Some people are on three calls
already.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As the member for Swan Hills asked particularly about the Ellen
Brook wetland project, indeed, of all the subcatchments that flow into the Swan
and Canning Rivers system, Ellen Brook is the largest nutrient contributor. As
the nutrients flow into the Swan and Canning Rivers system, they are a large
contributor to the algal blooms and fish deaths we sometimes see. A range of
on-ground projects have been ongoing, including nutrient filters, the trial of
soil amendment products, revegetation works and the fencing of riparian zones,
particularly revegetation works in and around riparian zones.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : In particular the Swan–Canning water quality
improvement plan made a strong recommendation for the construction of wetlands
around key sites and tributaries flowing into the Swan and Canning Rivers
system. This is exactly what we are doing.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, you are now on three calls and nine-tenths!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : The first stage of the Ellen Brook wetland project will start
this summer with a $2 million funding commitment from this government. The
project will divert a portion of Ellen Brook from the main brook area for
treatment using biofilters and vegetated wetland. This project will strip up to
one tonne of nutrients per annum.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Water diverted through that wetland will pass through
nutrient-absorbing biofilters and a vegetated wetland area, with bank
stabilisation and revegetation activities. A riffle will be installed as part
of these works and will further contribute to the improvement of the water that
flows into the Swan River, stripping nutrients out of that water as it flows
through. Significantly, we have also used a product called Phoslock, a modified
clay material, which was applied to the brook between September and October
this year. Phoslock will directly reduce the phosphorous loads that will flow
through the Ellen Brook into the Swan River system, particularly from the Ellen
Brook catchment area. I look forward to updating the house further on other
works we are doing in this space.
last week about publishing results of survey work done of the Swan River, I
caught interjections from members opposite about what we are doing in and
around nutrient inflows into the Swan and Canning Rivers system, so I thought
this would be a very good opportunity to update the house on some of the work
we are doing in this space.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the first time. I do
not want to hear any more interjections. Some people are on three calls
already.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As the member for Swan Hills asked particularly about the Ellen
Brook wetland project, indeed, of all the subcatchments that flow into the Swan
and Canning Rivers system, Ellen Brook is the largest nutrient contributor. As
the nutrients flow into the Swan and Canning Rivers system, they are a large
contributor to the algal blooms and fish deaths we sometimes see. A range of
on-ground projects have been ongoing, including nutrient filters, the trial of
soil amendment products, revegetation works and the fencing of riparian zones,
particularly revegetation works in and around riparian zones.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : In particular the Swan–Canning water quality
improvement plan made a strong recommendation for the construction of wetlands
around key sites and tributaries flowing into the Swan and Canning Rivers
system. This is exactly what we are doing.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, you are now on three calls and nine-tenths!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : The first stage of the Ellen Brook wetland project will start
this summer with a $2 million funding commitment from this government. The
project will divert a portion of Ellen Brook from the main brook area for
treatment using biofilters and vegetated wetland. This project will strip up to
one tonne of nutrients per annum.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Water diverted through that wetland will pass through
nutrient-absorbing biofilters and a vegetated wetland area, with bank
stabilisation and revegetation activities. A riffle will be installed as part
of these works and will further contribute to the improvement of the water that
flows into the Swan River, stripping nutrients out of that water as it flows
through. Significantly, we have also used a product called Phoslock, a modified
clay material, which was applied to the brook between September and October
this year. Phoslock will directly reduce the phosphorous loads that will flow
through the Ellen Brook into the Swan River system, particularly from the Ellen
Brook catchment area. I look forward to updating the house further on other
works we are doing in this space.
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