As part of the recent upgrades to Koombana Drive, a bio-filtration garden system will be installed along the western side of the popular road.
The system is being set up in a bid to protect the Leschenault Inlet’s water quality by improving the quality of stormwater runoff from Koombana Drive before it enters the inlet.
Stormwater often carries pollutants such as litter, sediments, hydrocarbons and nutrients, which the new bio-filtration system will help to remove from the water through physical, chemical and biological processes.
This will be one of several Water Sensitive Urban Design projects that the South West Catchments Council is co-funding with Local Governments within the South West Region.
With urban population growth on the incline, WSUD such as bio-filtration gardens are becoming increasingly important to reduce the amount of nutrients entering waterways.
According to SWCC chief executive officer Damien Postma, the implementation of the bio-filtration system will have multiple benefits.
“The new bio-filtration garden will not only reduce the impacts of contaminated stormwater entering the Leschenault Inlet, but also increase the amenity and biodiversity value of the area by greening urban streets with native plants” said Mr Postma.
Further information on the processes and benefits associated with bio-filtration gardens will be available via signage to be installed once the project has been completed later this year.
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme, and the City of Bunbury through the Regional Road Group.
