Ashfield Flats

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) developed the Ashfield Flats Master Plan to guide future land management and planning in the area. This Master Plan was created through a collaborative process involving DBCA, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH), the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), the Town of Bassendean, and Water Corporation, with active community engagement, including representation from Whadjuk and Noongar communities. Preparation of the Master Plan was supported by a two-year monitoring program to understand the Flats' hydrological processes and assess local vegetation.

As the largest river flat in the Perth Metropolitan Region, Ashfield Flats holds significant environmental value, housing a large occurrence of the Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) and designated as Bush Forever Site 214. The site is also a popular location for community recreational activities, making it essential to balance public access with environmental conservation.

The Master Plan sets forth the following objectives:

• Preserve and adapt the area's unique environmental qualities.
• Connect people with nature to enhance community well-being.
• Promote knowledge sharing.
• Implement sustainable, coordinated management practices.

To achieve these goals, the Master Plan outlines 45 actions.

In 2024, the Town of Bassendean secured $1,999,392 in grant funding through the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program. This project, scheduled for completion between 2025 and February 2028, will involve:

• Installing fencing to protect the Threatened Ecological Community, especially saltmarsh species, from uncontrolled access.
• Implementing weed control across 40 hectares.
• Conducting an integrated monitoring program to track changes in flora, assess the effectiveness of weed control, and monitor soil and water quality.
• *Restoring riparian (foreshore) areas from the east end of the Chapman Street Drain Boardwalk, extending to the private property boundary north of Sandy Beach Reserve.
• *Installing a new limestone path between the Chapman Street Drain Boardwalk and Sandy Beach Reserve at 0.8 AHD or higher, to help protect the natural environment.

The Town, DBCA, and Bassendean Preservation Group (BPG) will contribute support, including project management, staff and volunteer labour, and plant supply from BPG.

The Town will continue to work with stakeholders and the community in the delivery of this project. Further updates will be provided on this webpage as the project progresses. To join the project mailing list, please email [email protected].

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of the Town of Bassendean, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Bassendean Preservation Group.

*The new path alignment as shown on the Master Plan is conceptual only and does not necessarily represent the actual location for installation.  Both the path location and type of foreshore restoration works will be determined during detailed design, drawing on the expertise of a qualified coastal engineering consultant, and the application of established best management practices. Further consultation will take place during detailed design. If you are not already on the mailing list and would like to be kept up to date on project progress and consultation opportunities, please email [email protected].

Bindaring Park Living Stream

In 2021, the Town of Bassendean commenced a living stream project within the northern extent of Bindaring Park. The goals of the project are to:

• Increase native vegetation and habitat for native fauna in the reserve
• Improve water quality entering the into the Swan River through Bindaring Park
• Reduce weed presence in Bindaring Park and associated fire hazards from annual and perennial weeds.

The Town is conducting annual weed control and revegetation works within Bindaring Park to achieve the above objectives.

In early 2023, the Town received funding from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) through the Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest (SCRUF) program to implement the 2023 weed control and revegetation works. In late 2023, the Town received further funding through the SCRUF program to implement the 2024 and 2025 stages of the living stream. Further information on the funding program can be found here. 

The Town has been partnering with La Salle College students to deliver this living stream project, with the students providing over 1,400 volunteer hours for works in Bindaring Living Stream and other natural area projects in the Town since 2021.

A quenda (native bandicoot), was first detected in the reserve in 2022. These small marsupials are vulnerable to predation and attack from foxes, cats and dogs. To protect our native wildlife, it is important that all dogs within Bindaring Park are walked on lead and that domestic cats are kept out of the reserve; Bindaring Park is a cat prohibited area under the Cats Local Law 2021.

Success Hill Reserve Riverine Slope Rehabilitation

In 2022, the Town of Bassendean and Friends of Success Hill Reserve received funding through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ (DBCA) Community Rivercare Program to rehabilitate the slope leading from the upland bush area of Success Hill Reserve to the river edge. The program focused on initial removal of Lantana, a Weed of National Significance, from the foreshore slope and installation of local native tubestock to improve the habitat value provided by the Lantana. Friends of Success Hill provided in kind support to the project by undertaking manual weeding and revegetation of a buffer area between the upland bush area and the slope.  The initial works achieved removal of Lantana from a 966m² area of the slope, and installation of 235 seedlings by a contractor, and hand weeding of a 1,000 m² area and installation of 1,903 seedlings by the Friends of Success Hill in the buffer zone to improve the value of this foreshore habitat.

In early 2023, the Town received funding from the Department of Biodiversity Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) through the Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest (SCRUF) program to continue removal of Lantana and expand the program to include other woody weeds and high priority weeds for control such as Bridal Creeper and Arum Lily. In late 2023, the Town received further funding to continue these works into 2024 and 2025. Further information of the funding program can be found here.

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

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.

Town of Bassendean Foreshore Assessment

in 2021, Town of Bassendean engaged an 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.

Bassendean Green Trail

In 2020, the State Government began construction on a principal shared pathway (PSP) next to the Success Hill Train Station, closing the final gap in the Perth to Midland PSP. As part of the project, the Department of Transport, Main Roads WA and Town of Bassendean developed the Green Trail initiative to add native landscaping to the area along the new path, and broader route. The State Government-funded initiative is the second of its kind in WA and will create a shaded and scenic route for walkers and riders alike.

The Department of Transport has recently published their evaluation report for the Bassendean Green Trail Pilot Project, which showcases tangible benefits within the community. Bassendean Green Trail's success suggest similar projects could be effective elsewhere. The evaluation summary underlines unanimous support for the implementation of green routes along active transport pathways.

Bassendean Green Trail Gallery

The Town of Bassendean Green Trail Gallery is a digital art trail showcasing the talents of young, local artists with the aim of creating moments of engagement for the trail.

Between First and Third Avenue, artworks created by Cyril Jackson Senior Campus art students are on display, accessed by a QR code.  Each artwork is designed in collaboration with a Sound Artist, to create an evocative experience whilst walking along the pathway. Local history, archival images and stories were the starting point for the project, utilising information found in the Towns local studies collection.   This was done with the support of professional artists as they created works in response to the location.

Lead Creative                        Steve Berrick

Sound Artist                           Mei Swan Lim

Contributing Artist                  Marie Molloy

Project Coordinator               Gabriella Filippi

Bassendean Green Trail Landscaping

On ground works for the Green Trail initiative started in May 2021 with a community tree planting day, where residents assisted in the installation of 39 street trees along the PSP, from the river end of Railway Parade to the railway underpass. Planting works started in June, with students from La Salle College participating in planting days to work towards their Certificate II Active Volunteering Course. 2021 planting works will extend from the river end of Railway Parade to the Bassendean Train Station, using a selection of native waterwise plants. Over 6,000 plants will be used to create a scenic walking and cycling route, provide local cooling benefits and provide additional habitat within the Town.

Palmerston Reserve Stage 3 Project

Site preparation commenced in November 2022 for a future planting site at the north east of the Reserve, with 2,200 low growing native species planted in winter 2023. Plants were installed with assistance from La Salle College, Sparx Early Learning Centre and a Town of Bassendean staff planting day. A concrete mowing kerb, mulch and informal log seating have also been installed.

For details please contact Sustainability & Environment on 9377 8000.