Swan River Bridges to Bridges Riverbank Restoration Project Case Study
Clarendon Residential initiated the Swan River Restoration project as a result of Clarendon's concern at the degraded state of the Swan River foreshore. A partnership was formed with Bennet Brook Environmental Services (now North Metropolitan Conservation Group) to rehabilitate 400 metres of foreshore owned by Guildford Grammar School. The intention of the project is to improve the ecological condition of the riparian zone through revegetation. It included repairing the erosion of high banks through the use of soft engineering structures and reversing the erosion of low banks through the use of emergent rushes in the tidal zone. The project provides opportunities for college students to be involved and to foster a sense of ownership of the site and the river. Students have the opportunity to be involved in project activities including:
- planting;
- direct seeding;
- monitoring sites for plant survival;
- manual weeding; and
- environmental monitoring (salinity, water levels, fauna).
The project has involved the construction of a new fence to keep out livestock followed by the revegetation of the over and understoreys of plant species along the riverbank. Phase One conducted in 2006 saw weed control measures undertaken and planting of the understorey vegetation to hold the soil together. Phase 2 has commenced in 2007 with the further planting of the understorey and weed control, alongside a feasibility study of erosion control measures which will be commenced in Phase 3. Ongoing monitoring of the survival rate of the plantings, the success of the weed control and maintaining the integrity of the fence is an integral part of ensuring the long-term success of this project.
It is hoped the project will produce on-ground work of such quality that the Guildford Grammar foreshore is a demonstration site for the implementation of best practice in erosion control techniques and revegetation and is a reference point for river managers and surrounding landholders.
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