A new wetland has been created by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate to help keep Canberra’s water clean.
Part of the ACT Healthy Waterways program, the Minister for Water, Shane Rattenbury said the trial wetland in Lake Tuggeranong, was designed to reduce the likelihood of algal blooms in warm weather.
“Current ongoing research shows that the introduction of a new wetland environment in Lake Tuggeranong will create competition with algae for nutrients and light, making it much harder for algal blooms to spread,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“This is the first large-scale deployment of a floating wetland within the ACT,” he said.
“The wetland will cover approximately 500m2 and will absorb significant amounts of nutrients entering the area during low flows when algal blooms might form.”
Mr Rattenbury said the floating wetland was made of a fibrous recycled plastic base covered with a matt of coconut fibre.
He said local native plants would grow through the layers of material, with their roots to extend into the water.
“The plants, and the fungi and bacteria that grow on their roots, will take up nutrients from the water, helping to improve water quality,” he said.
Mr Rattenbury said the trial would last for two years, during which time the Directorate would closely monitor the performance of the project.
“If the trial is successful, the wetland will be maintained in Lake Tuggeranong on an ongoing basis,” he said.
