The McGowan Labor Government has allocated $1 million in funding to the Riverbank Program to improve the condition of shorelines and enhance biodiversity, infrastructure protection and social amenity values in the Swan Canning Riverpark.
Eleven projects have been awarded a total of $424,821 under the program’s grants scheme for 2019-20.
These projects include:
- Replacement of the deteriorating river walls between Coode Street and Ellam Street in South Perth with revetments, headlands and beaches, and the creation of habitats for the black swan;
- Ecological restoration of the Canning and Southern Rivers, Gosnells; and
- Rehabilitation of the north western foreshore of Point Resolution.
The remaining funding of $575,179 is for priority projects in the Swan and Canning rivers and will contribute to The Nature Conservancy’s Restoring the Iconic Swan project that will help seed mussel reefs and create native animal habitats in the Swan River.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions administers the Riverbank Program grants through an annual, competitive process with open expressions of interest.
More than $22.5 million has been invested in foreshore restoration projects at 294 Riverbank project sites since 2002.
Local governments match the State’s contribution of the Riverbank Program and as a result more than $50 million has been invested in foreshore restoration projects along the Swan and Canning rivers.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Swan and Canning rivers are incredibly important to Perth’s residents, our tourism and our economy.
“The Riverbank Program is one of the ways the McGowan Labor Government and local governments are ensuring our rivers remain protected by supporting these great projects.
“This important work includes ecological protection, shoreline restoration, native animal habitat creation, revegetation and weed control to help keep our rivers healthy and enjoyed by all.”
Successful project sites to receive Riverbank Program funding in 2019-20:
| Site Title / Location | Partner | Project Intent |
| Ferndale Flats | City of Canning | Restoration project including weed control, vegetation mapping and monitoring, seed collection and revegetation |
| Canning River, Armadale | City of Armadale | Ecological restoration of the Canning River |
| Canning and Southern Rivers, Gosnells | City of Gosnells | Ecological restoration of the Canning and Southern Rivers |
| Point Resolution | City of Nedlands | Rehabilitation of the north western foreshore of Point Resolution |
| Sir James Mitchell Parks Foreshore Node N7: The Lakes | City of South Perth | Replacement of degraded river walls with revetments, headlands and beaches, and the creation of swan habitats |
| Canning River Regional Park | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions – Regional Parks Unit | Rehabilitation, protection and enhancement of Canning River Regional Park foreshore and bushland areas |
| Bateman Park Foreshore | City of Melville | Foreshore revegetation and weed control |
| Waugal Lagoon | City of Swan | Weed control and revegetation |
| Point Roe Park | Town of Mosman Park | Restoration of Point Roe Park including revegetation, access control and the creation of a bird hide |
| Hilton Grove | City of Belmont | Garvey floodplain foreshore stabilisation |
| Freshwater Bay | Town of Claremont | Development of a sand management plan |
