The use of pocket wetlands to reduce pollutants from urban run off was the topic of the ‘Best Paper’ presented at the recent 9th National Local Government Engineers Conference. Geoff Hunter from Blacktown City Council in NSW was awarded the E J Hooper Medal for his presentation on the principles behind the wetlands approach.
He covered the successes and failures of the technique, both in Blacktown and the United States. The process of urbanisation, he noted, tends to interfere with natural run off systems increasing the amount of stormwater flow. This is then exacerbated by efficient man made stormwater systems.
When coupled with the amount of pollutants generated in modern communities, the effect is highly damaging to waterway and ocean ecosystems.
For the following reasons, pocket wetlands are an ideal way to control pollutants close to their source.
- They are small areas to maintain.
- They are available for environmental education.
- They create habitat for local flora and fauna.
- They promote ‘ownership by the local community.
- They are aesthetically pleasing and provide for passive recreation.
Blacktown constructed its original wetland project in Plumpton Park in 1993. It proved so successful in terms of local community education and leisure that it was decided to adopt this environmentally sympathetic system instead of conventional practice.
Pocket systems are favoured over larger systems owing to their ability to harness community skills for maintenance and care. While the most successful wetlands were of the pocket type, these pose problems for Local Government maintenance unless there is a commitment from the local community to help manage the project. Thus Blacktown has expressed willingness to assist with creating pocket wetlands where community commitment clearly exists.
Currently Blacktown is participating in the creation of a 1,000 square metre wetland as part of the redevelopment of the King’s Park Industrial Estate.
“It is important that these facilities are developed in response to community expectations and that the community ‘owns’ the project,” Geoff Hunter said. “In this way Local Government can offer its services in an advisory and coordination role rather than as a regulator.”
For further information contact Geoffrey Hunter, telephone (02) 9839 6000.
