New ACT wetlands aims to protect environment and provide safe swimming

Construction has started on wetlands in the Fyshwick catchment that will clean stormwater flowing into Lake Burley Griffin and downstream into the Murrumbidgee River system.

The Narrabundah wetlands will be constructed along 420 metres of Jerrabomberra Creek and include a chain of six open water ponds. This will provide cleaner water and improved habitat for fish, birds and frogs, along with a wider, cleaner and better creek running through improved green space for the Narrabundah community to enjoy.

The aim is also to eventually see Canberrans return to regular swimming in Lake Burley Griffin

ACT Senator Zed Seselja joined the ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman to mark the occasion.

Minister Gentleman said three new wetlands would help clean the run-off from heavily urbanised, industrial, commercial and agricultural areas in the Fyshwick catchment, commneting "these new wetlands will help reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants flowing into Jerrabomberra Creek and on into Lake Burley Griffin.

“This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to protecting the ACT’s environment and keeping our local water catchments and habitats clean and safe for native species.

“The other two wetlands will be between Eyre St and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Kingston and on Jerrabomberra Creek off Dairy Road.”

Senator Seselja said the wetlands would play a critical role in improving water quality in the ACT, downstream in the Murrumbidgee River system and in the wider Murray–Darling Basin.

Senator Seselja added “the nature of the catchment, with its industrial and agricultural run-off, made it a priority from day one of the project."

Senator Seselja went on to tell The Canberra Times "I remember as a kid ... regularly swimming in Lake Burley Griffin. That used to be a regular recreational activity and it seems that happens a lot less these days in a number of lakes and waterways. 

"I envisage, and I'm sure Minister Gentleman would agree with this, that over time we would see a lot of people using the lake and a lot more people wanting to swim in the lake again. And (then we're) looking at all the flow on benefits when you attract people to a body of water like that."

However, the full benefits of the wetlands are unlikely to be felt in Lake Burley Griffin, and downstream in the Murrumbidgee River system - which has a blue-green algae bloom - until mid-2021, a project manager told The Canberra Times.

Until then, Senator Seselja has urged Canberrans to err on the side of caution when it came to swimming in local waterways, adding "the Australian Government is investing up to $85 million in ACT Healthy Waterways, which has the biggest footprint of any water quality infrastructure project ever undertaken in the ACT.

“Some of the individual projects are world-leaders in terms of size and scope and I’m glad to say the Healthy Waterways program is being delivered on time and on budget, which has allowed for an extra infrastructure project in Tuggeranong.

“All 20 infrastructure projects are scheduled for completion this year.”

In addition to infrastructure projects, ACT Healthy Waterways is funding two pioneering research projects into water quality, and the H2OK community education program promoting ‘only rain down the stormwater drain’.

For more information about ACT Healthy Waterways visit www.act.gov.au/H2OK