Source : Perth Now news
Tens of thousands of native seedlings as well as major funding is on the way to restore vegetation and degraded native habitats along the Canning River in Armadale.
The City of Armadale received $153,971 from the State Government’s riverbank program to support critical revegetation, weed management and habitat restoration at four sites next year.
More than 35,000 native seedlings will be planted across Roley Pool, Araluen Walk Trail, Brookside Avenue and Pries Park, forming part of a long-term push to protect and connect natural bushland along the Canning River.
Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the renewed funding was building on years of work from city staff, the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, local volunteers and private landholders.
“Across these four sites, more than 35,000 native seedlings will be planted, with restoration works planned across approximately 530m of river foreshore to strengthen habitat connections along the Canning River,” she said.
“At Roley Pool, we’re progressing to the sixth stage of restoration, while work at Pries Park and Araluen Walk Trail will build on previous efforts to remove invasive weeds and reintroduce native vegetation.
“At Brookside Avenue, restoration works will also focus on improving habitat for native wildlife, including quendas, rakali and Carter’s freshwater mussels.”
Throughout 2027, 6000 seedlings will be planted throughout the Araluen Heritage Walk Trail, with weed management and habitat restoration spread over 2500sqm.
Previous restoration at Roley Pool will also be continued, planting 5170 seedlings over 3390sqm.
This will reconnect more than 2.5km of river habitat between the sites, and allow visitors to walk along the trail while the transformation takes place.
Meanwhile, Brookside Avenue will receive 11,500 seedlings across about 4000sqm of land, with a focus on wildlife habitat improvements. Revegetation at Pries Park that began in 2023 will be continued, with 12,500 new seedlings planned.
New “bandicoot bungalows” will also be created in the two areas, made out of woody materials removed during weed management. These will provide shelter and refuge for small native animals such as quendas while the vegetation becomes established.
Animals and plants along Canning River have been struggling as the environment became more fragmented due to pressures such as riverbank erosion, invasive weeds and biodiversity loss.
Removing invasive vegetation and reintroducing native species aims to restore the natural balance of the areas and strengthen the river in the future.
The Roley Pools Heritage Walk Trail Project has been allocated $45,000, whilst the remaining $108,971 will go towards the three sites along Canning River.
On-ground restoration treatments are expected to be completed by December next year.
