Environmental Projects and Living Streams 

The Town values and understands the importance of its natural areas and waterways. Priorities identified in the 2020-2030 Strategic Community Plan include to value and conserve and protect our water resources and water ways through the implementation of waterwise initiative and policies and converting drainage infrastructure into living streams and to conserve, protect and enhance our natural environmental and biodiversity.

Palmerston Reserve Stage 3 Project

Site preparation commenced in November 2022 for a future planting site at the north east of the Reserve, with 3,200 low growing native species to be planted in winter 2023. A concrete mowing kerb, mulch and informal log seating will also be installed.

For details please refer to signage on site or contact Sustainability & Environment on 9377 8000.

Mary Crescent Reserve Micro Wetland

The 2021 Our Park, Our Place project  was a collaborative project aimed at reconnecting people with nature in their neighbourhood. The broader project was run by Greening Australia and the Behaviour Change Collaborative, and funded through a Lotterywest grant. The project had a strong focus on working together with local governments in some of Perth’s most heat-stressed areas to enhance the wellbeing of residents. Further information on the larger project can be viewed on the Greening Australia website.  

In the Town of Bassendean, Mary Crescent Reserve in Eden Hill was selected as the project site. After initial community consultation identified the storm water basin as an area of interest for rehabilitation, the Town sought additional funding from the Water Corporation through the Drains to Liveability Program, to assist in transforming the storm water basin into a micro wetland. The project was concluded in February 2022, and had encompassed several community events, works shops focus on sustainability, and planting days. 

More information on the micro wetland construction can be found on the Town's YouTube page

Additional hydrozoning to replace irrigated grass with native Waterwise species was completed in 2022 with the assistance of the community and school groups in planting and weeding days. 

  

The Our Park, Our Place project activities in Perth have been supported by Lotterywest and delivered as part of Greening Australia’s Nature in Cities program. This project was also supported by Water Corporation’s Drainage for Liveability program. The program, which upgraded Mary Crescent basin, illustrates how functional stormwater drains and basins can continue to serve as flood prevention while also enhancing the liveability of our suburbs.

Second to Fourth Ave Living Stream

Works are planned to convert the open drain running between Second and Fourth Avenue into a living stream, to provide habitat, recreation, cooling benefits and water quality improvement. With support from the Water Corporation through the Drains to Liveability Program, scoping workshops identified the preferred site and a concept design was developed in consultation with the community in 2020.

Concept Design

Detailed designs and approvals are currently being finalised with Water Corporation, with the intention to commence Stage 1 (Second to Third Avenue) in 2022/23.  

Point Reserve Foreshore Concept Plan

A foreshore concept plan has been developed to guide future works and environmental restoration at Point Reserve. Development of the Point Reserve Foreshore Plan involved a river value desktop assessment, workshops with Bassendean Primary River Rangers and Councillors and community and stakeholder consultation on multiple options. In February 2023, Council resolved to approve the Foreshore Plan with inclusion of specific elements in the final concept. The next stage will involve detailed design development. 

Point Reserve Foreshore Plan

Town of Bassendean Foreshore Assessment

in 2021, Town of Bassendean engaged a engineer specialising in coastal and foreshore areas to undertake an assessment of the Town's foreshore areas, examine rates of erosion and identify priorities for erosion mitigation works. The Town of Bassendean manages around a third of the Swan River foreshore, with the remaining land under private ownership or management of the State Government. Ongoing assessment of the Town managed foreshore will be undertaken annually to monitor erosion progression and identify any changes to the priority areas.