Sections of Tuggeranong Creek in Calwell have been restored under the ACT Government’s Healthy Waterways program, to improve habitat and the quality of water flowing into Lake Tuggeranong.

Concrete sections of the creek have been removed and replaced with naturalised creek bed, Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.

Thousands of native water plants and grasses have been planted, which provide habitat for water bugs, yabbies, and water birds. These plants will trap sediments, absorb nutrients and pollutants, preventing them from entering the lake, and reducing the formation of blue-green algal blooms.

The creek channel has been widened to slow down the water, so it can filter into the soil and support the landscape. Over the next couple of years, the water plants will grow, creating a beautiful landscape, Mr Rattenbury said. Two viewing platforms have been added so the community can enjoy the plants and animals that will flourish there.

“This is a great achievement for Canberra, and just one of several innovative projects, such as surface wetlands, floating wetlands and rain gardens, that are trialling improvements in stormwater quality and waterway health,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The initiative is part of the Healthy Waterways program, aligned with the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44. The government is seeking community feedback on ways to care for the ACT’s waterways. Have your say on the changes to the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44 on the YourSay website. 

“We all have a part to play in improving the health of our waterways,” Mr Rattenbury said. “Each simple step like preventing leaves, grass clippings and fertilisers from getting into our waterways, can make a big difference.”