Inner North SEE-Change presents: Creating Urban Wetlands in Canberra's Inner North

Clown killer, very enlightening.

Seems your local people are able to get their voice heard by the powers that be. Good on you and I take my hat off to you for your community mindedness and persistence.

Nevertheless, it is annoying that the people are having to lobby to get the govt to act on such projects.

I have now twigged to where Tuggers’s problem lies – Tuggeranong Community Council seem to both disdain and reject community input whenever I’ve attended about issues close to my heart, and appear to be rather full of themselves (as they, patronisingly, ‘know best’), It would be great to see a bit of fresh blood at TCC. Unfortunately, govt appear to see them as representative.

And is there a particular reason these kinds of things always start in Canberra’s inner North??!

The works happening in the inner north now are the result of about 12 years of hard work by members of the Sullivans Creek Catchment Group, the local building industry and a handful of seriously hard working people inside TAMS. By way of example, the money to install a wetland at the Banksia Street site took more than five years to pull together. This isn’t just an ACT Government thing, it’s driven by people in the local community with money coming from the Commonwealth, local and national businesses and the ACT Government.

Although the liability for being sued by parents whose children fall in them might be an issue (sadly), as these things will be created by people, not naturally occurring (which is why ski resorts wrap lift towers, but not trees).

There are around 160-odd engineered standing bodies of water in publically accessible areas in the ACT. These wetlands are no different to the Lake Burley Griffin or the others in town centres or indeed other stormwater management ponds throughout the territory. Could a kid drown in one? Possibly. Could the kids parents sue the Territory? I guess they’d be welcome to try their luck.

Woden location is a mere suggestion for a wetlands, guys.

I admit that I am somewhat stroppy and miserable today as I am crook with the proverbial lurgy. If I am guilty of ranting tangentially, I blame the drugs!

I’m glad you are so confident, Chewy. Personally, I think they are mad even considering building on that place. ‘Risk management’ does not take away the considerable personal cost of floods, even if it’s only a ‘once every 50 years’ flood. Look at what happened to the large capacity stormwater drains at Richo/Calwell during the big hailstorm of New Years Eve, just a couple of years ago. Should have coped fine, but the actual drains fell apart from the water pressure and blocked themselves up with concrete. Houses half a k away from these huge drains were flooded.

If there is a storm water drain there, it’s because it is a natural water course. Besides, a wetlands would be better than a horrid tower block! (Look at that hideous, dissonant monstrosity of architectural design perched on the corner of hindmarsh!)

miz said :

How about in Woden, adjacent to the flood prone police station (ie opp the Plaza?) It’s a known flood zone, after all (see report of the Dept of Interior/NCDC on 26 Jan 1971 floods, catalogued here by national library at http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/352121?lookfor=author:%22Australia.%20Dept.%20of%20the%20Interior%22&offset=16&max=432 )

Oh, hang on, wait a sec, some dumkopfs are putting a high rise development on it!!! Fools – there’s a good reason it’s not been developed. Just because it was 30 odd years ago does not mean it is no longer a flood zone. Talk about short corporate memory.

However, perhaps a lovely public wetlands area there might serve as a picturesque memorial? (note, I am not being facetious about this aspect).

Miz,

I am not sure that Woden is in the Inner Norf

miz said :

How about in Woden, adjacent to the flood prone police station (ie opp the Plaza?) It’s a known flood zone, after all (see report of the Dept of Interior/NCDC on 26 Jan 1971 floods, catalogued here by national library at http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/352121?lookfor=author:%22Australia.%20Dept.%20of%20the%20Interior%22&offset=16&max=432 )

Oh, hang on, wait a sec, some dumkopfs are putting a high rise development on it!!! Fools – there’s a good reason it’s not been developed. Just because it was 30 odd years ago does not mean it is no longer a flood zone. Talk about short corporate memory.

You know they have this new thing, its called Engineering.
But i’m sure you know better than the engineers designing the buildings.

How about in Woden, adjacent to the flood prone police station (ie opp the Plaza?) It’s a known flood zone, after all (see report of the Dept of Interior/NCDC on 26 Jan 1971 floods, catalogued here by national library at http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/352121?lookfor=author:%22Australia.%20Dept.%20of%20the%20Interior%22&offset=16&max=432 )

Oh, hang on, wait a sec, some dumkopfs are putting a high rise development on it!!! Fools – there’s a good reason it’s not been developed. Just because it was 30 odd years ago does not mean it is no longer a flood zone. Talk about short corporate memory.

However, perhaps a lovely public wetlands area there might serve as a picturesque memorial? (note, I am not being facetious about this aspect).

As for frogs, I get those fat rolly polly banjo frogs in my backyard. They are sooo cute…

You might need to remind JB to go home after a few beers then matey.

Urban wetlands are a great idea. Not only do they provide habitat but they filter water improving its quality and provide nice scenery for residents.

The pond near the Belconnen soccer club in Evatt is a perfect example of an urban wetland.

Not to mention flooding the habitat of the NIMBYS is good way of eliminating these pests

They could do one at Sullies, too, say near Toad and another down before the Rowing sheds. Although the liability for being sued by parents whose children fall in them might be an issue (sadly), as these things will be created by people, not naturally occuring (which is why ski resorts wrap lift towers, but not trees).

This would be an excellent way to help combat local frog population problems, and frogs LOVE mosquito larvae. The ducks would love it too (they love frogs). And those tall birds that walk around sticking their beaks into the ground.

Having a local swamp would be a good thing.