ACT’s biggest water quality infrastructure project reaches completion
02 July 2019
Twenty healthy waterways projects
across
Canberra are now complete as part of the
Federal Government’s
partnership with the
ACT Government in the Territory’s biggest ever
water quality infrastructure initiative.
ACT Senator Zed Seselja and ACT Minister for the Environment and
Heritage Mick Gentleman marked the completion of the $93.5 million ACT
Healthy Waterways initiative and announced additional
University of
Canberra research to inform management of water quality in Lake
Tuggeranong.
Senator Seselja said the $85 million Federal Government investment was
vital for the ACT and the Murray–Darling Basin and
water management.
“This project represented a once in a generation opportunity to
significantly improve
water quality in the ACT’s lakes, as well as the Molonglo and
Murrumbidgee rivers and the broader Murray–Darling Basin,” Senator
Seselja said.
“Projects such as this are only possible because of our strong economy
and I’m very proud to have been able deliver this funding for Canberra.
“Clean water is essential for life, not just for us, but for all the
wildlife and plants that depend on it. Clean water is also a vital
resource for households and businesses in the ACT and downstream in the
Murray–Darling Basin.”
Minister Gentleman said the 20 new assets had the biggest footprint of
any water quality infrastructure initiate ever undertaken in the ACT and
were filtering pollutants from our stormwater.
“These projects are world leaders in terms of size and scope. The
Isabella Plains rain garden, for example, is the largest in the southern
hemisphere,” Minister Gentleman said.
“It’s a great credit to the project team responsible for design and
construction that the project has been delivered on time and on budget,
with finishing touches expected in coming weeks.
“Over the next two years’, the community will see the assets settle into
their environment as over half a million plants grow in, helping to
filter the water and beautify the surrounds.”
Dr Fiona Dyer has led a team of researchers from the University of
Canberra as a part of Healthy Waterways to investigate:
-
the sources of stormwater pollution
-
how pollutants behave in our lakes and ponds
-
how to manage water quality in Lake Tuggeranong and other urban lakes.
“This research by the University of Canberra will
continue to look at management interventions for Lake Tuggeranong with
the aim of reducing blue green algal blooms,” Minister Gentleman said.
Minister Gentleman said the Healthy Waterways project included
significant education, monitoring and research.
“Public awareness activities are helping to prevent pollutants from
entering waterways in the first place H2OK: Keeping Our Waterways
Healthy has been a fantastic education program targeting households and
businesses with its message of ‘Only rain down the stormwater drain’,”
Minister Gentleman said.
“By the end of June there will be nearly 1000 stencils on footpaths all
over the ACT reminding us all that stormwater flows into our lakes and
waterways. Waterwatch has also seen over 200 volunteers monitoring 232
waterway sites across the ACT and the surrounding region.
“I encourage everyone to do their part helping to keep our waterways
healthy by joining their local catchment group.”
--ENDS--
Source: ACT Government - www.cmd.act.gov.au
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