Have your say on the Bodkin Park living stream Draft Concept Plan

In partnership with the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL) and Water Corporation, the City has received a grant from Perth NRM to establish a new living stream at Bodkin Park in Waterford.

A living stream is a man-made stormwater channel that looks like a natural stream. As well as conveying stormwater, the nutrient stripping vegetation in the living stream also treats the water and creates diverse habitats for wildlife.

Bodkin Park features two lakes connected by a channel of open drain and a partially revegetated living stream which provides a stormwater management function.

The Bodkin Park stormwater management system contributes large volumes of fresh water into the Andrew Thomson Conservation Reserve wetlands. This has a detrimental impact on the flora and fauna in the wetlands due to high nutrient levels in the stormwater runoff.

The City has developed a Draft Concept Plan to establish a new living stream at Bodkin Park. The wood-lined open drainage channel located between the north and south lakes will be rehabilitated to create the new living stream. The introduction of indigenous wetland plants that strip the level of nutrients and contaminants in the water will aid in reducing the high levels of summer algal growth in the south lake and leading into the river.

The living stream Draft Concept Plan demonstrates:

ecological connectivity of the lake systems and the foreshore wetlands to allow movement of aquatic and amphibious animals through the area

• water quality improvements
• the retention of all existing mature and semi-mature trees
• environmental restoration and revegetation best management practics
• the retention of sight-lines and maintenance of physical access to the stream.

City of South Perth Mayor Sue Doherty encouraged the community and in particular Waterford residents and users of Bodkin Park to view the Draft Concept Plan and provide their feedback.

“The Draft Concept Plan is an important blueprint for the City to establish a new living stream in Bodkin Park in Waterford. It proposes vital improvements to the area including enhancing ecological connectivity and water quality as well as retention of all existing mature and semi-mature trees, sight-lines and access to the stream.”

How to get involved

To view the Draft Concept Plan and to provide your feedback, visit yoursay.southperth.wa.gov.au. Alternatively, hard copies of the documents and feedback forms are available at the Civic Centre, South Perth Library and Manning Library.

There will also be a drop in feedback and information session from 10-11.30am on Saturday 3 November near the top footbridge at Bodkin Park in Waterford. There is no need to RSVP. The project team, including staff from the City, Water Corporation, SERCUL and Syrinx will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Feedback on the draft Concept Plan closes at 4pm, Monday 19 November 2018.