River Health Improvement Program

Manley Street Compensation Basin

The Manley St Compensation Basin forms part of the Wharf St Main Drain System and flows into the nearby Canning River. This Basin was seen by DBCA as a significant opportunity for the removal of nutrients within this section of the drainage system to reduce the presence of phosphorus and nitrogen in the stormwater runoff that enters the Canning River.

Anvil Way Compensation Basin

The Mills Street main drain catchment was identified as a key contributor of nutrients to the Canning River. The Anvil Way Basin project aims to improve water quality and reduce nutrients and other contaminants entering the Canning River via the Mills Street main drain.

Design features include:

• a sedimentation pond will allow the settlement and periodic removal of sediment entering the basin
• a meandering low-flow path through the basin which increases residence time and contact with wetland vegetation during periods of low flow
• densely vegetated shallow bench (or floodplain) areas which are engaged during higher flows and to encourage sedimentation and pollutant removal
• a low flow diversion from the Mars Street drain to the inlet of the system to allow treatment of low flows through the entire flow path of the living stream
• an adjustable outlet weir which will facilitate maintenance and allow system gauging

Construction of the project encompassed removal and treatment/disposal of the accumulated black sludgy sediment in the basin. Sampling and analysis of this sludgy material found it to be potentially acidic and highly contaminated with metals and hydrocarbons. Removal and treatment of the contaminated sludge began in November 2010 with the re-shaping and revegetation of the basin following.

Objectives
The primary objectives of the Anvil Way monitoring program are to assess the performance of the living stream in treating and improving the quality of urban stormwater runoff exiting the basin and ultimately the Canning River and to determine compliance with relevant water quality guidelines.

Specific objectives of the Anvil Way project are to:

• Reduce the transport of nutrients and pollutants through the compensation basin
• Enhance the habitat and ecological value of the site
• Provide a basis for the promotion of improved stormwater and pollution management to local landholders
• Maintain the required hydrological capacity of the drainage system

Liege Street Wetland

The Liege St Wetland (LSW) is located within the Canning River Regional Park, in Cannington, WA. It intercepts stormwater from the Liege St, Cockram St and Greenfield St drains before discharging into the Canning River. The LSW is an extensive nutrient stripping and riparian restoration project undertaken in partnership by, as they were known then, the Swan River Trust, City of Canning, Department of Environment, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Water Corporation, Two Rivers Catchment Group (TRCG) and the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL).

The aims of the project are to:

• Provide a treatment area for storm water prior to discharge into the Canning River with the aim of reducing nutrient and sediment levels
• Improve the social amenity of the area by improving it’s appearance
• Increase the environmental value of the area by providing riparian and in-stream habitat
• Maintain the hydrological capacity of the drainage system

Approval was granted to carry out the works in April 2004. Earthworks and engineering works commenced soon afterwards and were completed in July 2004. The initial revegetation phase began in June and was completed by November 2004. Further information on the development of the project, concept design and specifications is provided by the Liege St Workshop Notes (Dept. of Environment, 2003) and Liege St Demonstration Wetland Concept Design; Liege St Wetland Earthworks Plan; Earthworks and Civil Inspection and Hold Points – Liege St Demonstration Wetland; and Revegetation Specifications – Liege St Demonstration Wetland (Syrinx, 2004).

Bickley Basin Restoration Project

The Lacey Street Main Drain Catchment has been identified as a key contributor of nutrients entering the Canning River. The Bickley Road Basin restoration project aims to improve the water quality entering Canning River via the Lacey Street Main Drain, by modifying the flow channel and vegetating the site. The project also aims to improve the habitat and amenity value of the area and provide a hydrological function.

The Bickley Road Basin project was initially funded through the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program, as DBCA’s RHIP was called then, with support from and collaboration with the City of Gosnells, Department of Environment, Water Corporation, the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group (AGLG) and the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL).

The Bickley Road Basin is located in Beckenham on land managed by the Water Corporation. The project area is approximately 1.5 hectares. It is bounded to the south by Bickley Road, to the north-west by the local government boundary and to the east by a private property fenceline. The project area includes all ponds, sumplands and upland areas within this boundary, including the outfall of one local council drain and the high flow bypass.

Wharf Street Constructed Wetland

The Wharf Street Constructed Wetland and Civic Parkland project was initiated under RHIP. The wetland, designed by consultants Syrinx Environmental, was implemented through a partnership arrangement involving DBCA, City of Canning and SERCUL. The wetland intercepts the Wharf Street Main Drain (WSMD) which delivers stormwater from a 129 ha urban area within the Canning Plain Catchment, to the Canning River just upstream of the Kent Street Weir. The wetland is designed to remove nutrients and other pollutants from the stormwater before it enters the Canning River, which can experience water quality degradation including de-oxygenation and occasional fish kill events. High flows can bypass the wetland and continue down the main drain so that hydraulic conductivity during storm events is maintained (Syrinx 2007, SRT 2013).

Specific objectives were:

• to improve the quality of water entering the Kent Street Weir pool, with a particular focus on reducing the delivery of nutrients in summer and autumn (when the weir boards are in place) and the risk of algal blooms is high
• to detain and treat stormwater flows emanating from the Wharf Street Catchment to reduce the delivery of contaminants to the Canning River
• to provide information on wetland maintenance requirements and costs, both in terms of the establishment and long term phases
• to fill knowledge gaps on the performance of wetlands in improving water quality

Secondary objectives of the site were to provide a passive recreational and educational asset, to provide an ecological link between the Canning River Regional Park and the Canning River Council Gardens, and to enhance the habitat of the area by returning endemic species and habitat types. These secondary objectives were not addressed in this assessment.