The ACT Government is calling for community feedback on plans to build a mini raingarden in Higgins to help improve the quality of storm water entering Canberra’s lakes and waterways.

“Kippax Creek in Higgins continues to receive poor quality stormwater from upstream urban areas,” Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.

“The proposed raingarden will help to improve water quality and help the government better understand the role that these nature-based filters can play across Canberra’s waterways.

“Raingardens look like a regular garden on the surface, but beneath they help to filter water and reduce sediment and other pollutants from entering the ACT’s lakes, ponds, and waterways.”

The government’s survey is available on the YourSay website, and closes on 13 June.

“The ACT Government invites the views of Canberrans and especially the residents of Higgins on the proposed design of the raingarden,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The proposed raingarden is part of a $20.5 million investment by the ACT Government under the Healthy Waterways program to help tackle the challenge of polluted stormwater leaving urban areas where it concentrates in Canberra’s lakes and ponds leading to blue-green algae blooms.

“With blue-green algae blooms an ongoing challenge for the ACT, it’s more important than ever that the government, business, and the community work together to reduce pollutants such as rubbish, leaves, and fertilisers from entering the stormwater drain in the first place,” Mr Rattenbury said.