Water Campaign

Water Campaign TM

The Water Campaign^TM is a sustainability program developed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Australian government, aimed at providing local governments with a framework and structured approach to actively assess and manage their water resources.

With the current water shortage in Perth, water conservation is now a high profile issue in the media. The lack of fresh water supply is affecting Perth city, as well as other Australian cities and regional areas. With consumption ever increasing and the unreliability of supply due to climatic changes, freshwater storage will be an ongoing problem.

The campaign is broken down into five distinct milestones achieving important project outcomes.

The milestones are as follows:

Milestone 1	Perform a scheme Water consumption inventory over two financial years for Council and community sectors. Conduct a review of Councils water quality management and how it affects the community's behaviour towards water quality in the region. Identify priority areas of concern.
Milestone 2	Set four Water Campaign^TM goals to guide Council's progression through the Campaign.
Milestone 3	Develop a Water Action Plan for both corporate and community sectors.
Milestone 4	Implement high priority actions in the Water Action Plan.
Milestone 5	Evaluate Water Action Plan success and progression towards the goals.

EMRC is taking an active role in assisting the member Councils' progress through their five milestones, by liaising with ICLEI, the Water Corporation, other external organisations and local Councils.

All six member Councils have enrolled to take part in the Water Campaign^TM - Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring and City of Swan. The City of South Perth and the Town of Victoria Park have also enlisted the expertise of EMRC for assisting in their progress through the Water Campaign^TM.

The following table provides a progress report for each Council involved in the Water Campaign^TM:

Council	Milestone 1	Milestone 2	Milestone 3	Milestone 4	Milestone 5
Town of Bassendean	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Progressing
City of Bayswater	Achieved	Progressing	Progressing
City of Belmont	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved
Shire of Kalamunda	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Progressing
Shire of Mundaring	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Progressing
City of Swan	Achieved	Progressing	Progressing
City of South Perth	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Achieved	Progressing
Town of Victoria Park	Achieved	Progressing	Progressing

For further information on the Water Campaign at the City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring, Town of Bassendean, City of Swan, City of South Perth and the Town of Victoria Park, please contact:

Miroslav Vujaklija, Environmental Consultant
Telephone: (08) 9424 2218
Email: miroslav.vujaklija@emrc.org.au

Water CampaignTM projects

Some key projects include:

Water quality improvement at corner of Riley Rd and Stoneville Rd in Stoneville, Shire of Mundaring
Water quality improvement in Maida Vale, Shire of Kalamunda
Water conservation project at the Town of Bassendean

Water Quality Improvement at corner of Stoneville & Riley Road - Stoneville - Shire of Mundaring

Since joining the Water Campaign the Shire of Mundaring has been involved in numerous water quality improvement and water conservation activities. As part of the Water Campaign and its Environmental Management Strategy, the shire has implemented water quality improvement, flood and erosion control measures at the corner of Stoneville Road and Riley Road in Stoneville. The work was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1: Restoration of Jarrah Creek; and Stage 2: Restoration of Riley Road Dam and Spillway.

Stage 1

Stage 1 works were undertaken in 2007 and 2008, and have included removal of weed species such as watsonia, blackberry, snake vine and bridal creeper. Surface stabilisation (rock work) was also carried out to slow the water, lessen the erosion and sedimentation and create natural pools. Planting of local native creekline plant species was carried out to absorb nutrients and provide habitat. A great indicator that the project has been positive for the environment is the sound of frogs at the site. Before and after photographs of the site are shown below.

Jarrah Creek - Before

Jarrah Creek - Native revegetation in progress

Jarrah Creek - Revegetation success

Jarrah Creek - Water Sensitive Urban Design/ stabilisation works

Jarrah Creek - Flowing

Jarrah Creek - After improvements

Stage 2

Stage 2 works were undertaken in 2009, with planting works an ongoing occurence. Weed control works mainly included the removal of blackberry, . The most important work involved creating rock walls to slow the water, lessen the erosion and sedimentation and create natural pools; as well as planting endemic creekline species to absorb nutrients and provide habitat, improving the health of the Jane Brook Catchment. The dam was overflowing over a section of wall causing erosion and potential structural failure. The removal of weeds and construction of rock work along the spillway has allowed the natural overflow to continue along Jarrah Creek before the confluence of Jane Brook. Before and after photographs of the site are shown below.

Erosion at Riley and Stonevile Road Dam spillway - Before

Erosion at Riley and Stonevile Road dam spillway - Before

Stabilisation of dam spillway and removal of weeds

Revegetation and stabilisation of dam spillway

Water quality improvement in Maida Vale, Shire of Kalamunda

In 2007 the Shire was successful in third round of the Community Water Grants funding and received $50,000 to implement a water quality project in Maida Vale. This project significantly improved water quality in the Poison Gully Creek and provided safe and pleasant areas for rare flora and fauna. This project also enabled the Shire to treat water from a catchment of 2,750 hectares. The Shire of Kalamunda improved the water quality of Poison Gully Creek by installing vegetation filters, clearing rubbish, undertaking weed control and revegetation that reduced pollution loads, severe erosion and improved water quality.

Poison Gully Creek before improvements

Site Litter - Poison Gully Creek - Kalamunda - 2004

Aundo Infestation - Poison Gully Creek - Kalamunda - 2008

Poison Gully Creek after improvements

Revegetation - Poison Gully Creek - Kalamunda - 2009

Water Sensitive Urban Design - Poison Gully Creek - Kalamunda - 2009

Water conservation project at the Town of Bassendean

In 2007 the Town was successful in third round of the Community Water Grants funding and received $13,500 to implement a water conservation project at Jubilee Reserve public facilities. This project enabled the Town to save 1,070kL of scheme water per year through installation of water saving devices such as spring loaded low flow taps, water efficient shower heads and automatic zip flush master to urinals.

For further information on any of these projects, please contact:

Miroslav Vujaklija, Environmental Consultant
Telephone: (08) 9424 2218
Email: miroslav.vujaklija@emrc.org.au

For further information on the Water Campaign at the City of Bayswater, please contact:

Rebbekah Lamont, Environmental Consultant
Telephone: (08) 9424 2276
Email: Rebbekah.Lamont@emrc.org.au