Cleaning up the Canning

Cleaning up the Canning

Partnerships Making Real Change

A $10 Million Commitment to Our Rivers

Cleaning up the Canning is more than a catchphrase—it’s a commitment being brought to life through powerful partnerships. Thanks to the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, $10 million is being invested to improve the health of the Canning (Djarlgarro Beeliar), Southern, and Wungong Rivers, with projects scheduled for completion by March 2028.

Working together – A catchment-wide approach to river health

Through powerful partnerships, we are working to restore aquatic and riparian habitats for native wildlife such as Western Snake Necked Turtle, Rakali the native water rat, Quenda, threatened species of Black Cockatoos and Carter’s Freshwater Mussels. Improving water quality and stream connectivity are fundamental in creating healthier waterways vital for our unique plants and animals to thrive for generations to come, thereby creating a better future for all.

The comprehensive catchment-wide approach to river health is possible through partnerships between the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), the Cities of Canning, Gosnells, and Armadale, Town of Victoria Park, SERCUL, the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, and the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group to deliver six major projects:

  1. Drainage Retrofit – transforming stormwater management at four priority sites
  2. Weed Control and Revegetation – restoring degraded riparian areas at six locations across the catchment
  3. Canning River Pools – improving water quality, biodiversity and connectivity through adaptive management
  4. Sediment and Litter Control and Prevention – reducing pollution from construction sites through improved practices
  5. Whadjuk River Guardian – ensuring Traditional Owner participation across all projects
  6. Southern River Modelling – understanding nutrient pathways for better decision-making

SERCUL’s Role in the Partnership

SERCUL is proud to be a key partner in this initiative and is directly delivering on Weed Control and Revegetation across the catchment and coordinating the Sediment and Litter Control and Prevention Project.  These efforts are addressing critical environmental challenges across the Canning, Southern and Wungong Rivers and their inflowing drainage network.

SERCUL also hosts the Cleaning up the Canning Coordinator, who provides vital support across all Weed Control and Revegetation, and Drainage Retrofit Projects.  The coordinator also provides executive support to the Cleaning up the Canning Steering Committee.

SERCUL-Led Projects

Canning Tidal Flats Restoration is a key restoration sub-project restoring areas of the Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh Threatened Ecological Community at Adenia Lagoon and Kent Street Weir. These remarkable habitats are recognised as being of national environmental significance and provide essential ecosystem services that support both terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals.

Saltmarshes are nature’s powerful carbon-capture champions, storing carbon at rates far exceeding those of terrestrial forests. As every champion needs a support crew, SERCUL is leading the way in partnership with DBCA, the City of Canning, and the Canning River Regional Park Community Advisory Committee to ensure the saltmarshes achieve optimal environmental performance.

Canning Tidal Flats

Aquatic Weed Removal and Revegetation is tackling invasive species across more than 67 kilometres of the Canning, Southern and Wungong Rivers and targeting highly invasive species within associated drainage networks. This is a big-tent partnership effort, working with the Cities of Canning, Gosnells, and Armadale, DBCA, the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, the Canning River Regional Park Community Advisory Committee and the Regional Park Volunteers. This project is also working with staff from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), the Water Corporation, and, in some instances, private landholders.

From declared pests such as Kidney Leaf Mud-Plantain, Salvinia, Water Hyacinth, Water Primrose, and Amazon Frogbit to Weeds of National Significance such as Blackberry and Morning Glory, and widespread invaders such as Taro, this landscape-scale effort is improving aquatic and riparian habitat for native plants and animals.

Aquatic Weeds

Sediment and Litter Control and Prevention is working with local governments, builders and developers to improve practices that reduce sediment and litter reaching our waterways. Through internal management system reviews, baseline surveys, and education campaigns, this project is changing practices at their source to improve water quality.

SALCAP

These projects showcase what’s possible when government, community groups, and passionate individuals work together—creating healthier, more resilient spaces for both wildlife and people to enjoy for generations to come.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with support from the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare, the Cities of Armadale, Canning, and Gosnells, the Town of Victoria Park, Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.