The ACT Government has taken an important step towards improving water quality in Canberra’s lakes and waterways with the announcement of the first successful consultancy to inform phase one of the $85 million Basin Priority Project.
Minister for the Environment, Simon Corbell, said the successful tenderer, GHD, is a worldwide company with an office in Canberra. GHD has a demonstrated track record in water quality monitoring and providing professional services to the private and public sector.
GHD will conduct strategic water quality monitoring within the priority catchments of Yarralumla Creek, Lake Tuggeranong, Upper and Lower Molonglo, Fyshwick and West Belconnen.
“This is a very exciting project for the ACT. It is aligned with the ACT Government’s Water Strategy – ‘Striking the Balance’ – which I launched this month, and sets out the future pathway for improving the health of our waterways along with maintaining a sustainable water supply,” Mr Corbell said.
An analysis of the data collected in phase one will inform the second phase of the project, where infrastructure works will be selected to deliver significant water quality improvements.
Mr Corbell and federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, announced the Basin Priority Project agreement on 26 February. The signing of this agreement gave the ACT access to $85 million of Commonwealth Government funds to help clean up Canberra’s lakes and waterways.
”The Basin Priority Project will help to improve water quality in ACT waterways allowing residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy the benefits of healthy, functioning rivers and lakes and will complement the ACT Government’s efforts to reduce the impact of Canberra’s urban run-off on downstream water quality in the Murray-Darling Basin,” Mr Corbell said.
Further information regarding this project and the ACT Government’s water strategy is available on the Environment and Planning Directorate’s website www.environment.act.gov.au.
(Simon Corbell Media Release)
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