Talk talk and more talk! For the past decade we have heard the talk and seen new committees, investigative groups and management grops but its time to walk the walk! The Swan is sick and it doesnt need anymore type on paper it needs action! Firstly lets established what has changed in the Swan since we arrived here - European man, boats, pesticides, fertilisers, oils, diesel, paints, rubbish, car bodies, moorings, runoff and silting, declining rainfall and flushing, man made walls barriers and spits, Then lets work out how we might reverse some or all of that negative activity and try bring the Swan back to life? I have some ideas some basic some advanced some a bit zany and some that will cause a reaction from readers but lets take it to the Nth degree then work back from there. If you have some ideas let me know. I particularly would like feedback from our older members of the Swan River community so if you know someone who spent their childhood or whole life on and around the Swan get them to contribute their thoughts! In 5 years we can solve this problem!
Your time starts now........
Great idea, Stephen.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to your blog, the City of Nedlands 2030 Vision forum is another way to contact residents and raise this as a goal for thecommunity. The City is holding workshops to which everyone is invited.
The workshops are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday 3 November: 10 am to 1 pm - PLACES AVAILABLE
Tuesday 9 November: 10 am to 1 pm - FULL
Wednesday 10 November: 6pm to 9 pm - FULL
Thursday 11 November 6 pm to 9 pm - PLACES AVAILABLE
To register for a workshop please contact the City via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or email 2030@nedlands.wa.gov.au or call 9273 3500.
Merilyn
Still young crabs dead on the beach at White Beach in Dalkeith obviously something driving them out of the water!
ReplyDeleteIn years past Point Walter sand spit was never a permanent fixture it used to disappear under medium to high tides and be eroded quite heavily by strong flushing winter rains. This allowed the tidal flow into Melville Water and further upstream to gather momentum instead of being sent via Claremont Bay and Karrakatta Bank. Today the sand spit seems like a permanent fixture with river traffic only helping to stir up sand and deposit it higher up onto the shore. Perhaps the time has come to 'trim' the sand spit to allow tidal overflow to resume?
ReplyDeleteReclamation of land for the Narrows Bridge interchange and the earlier reclamation of The Esplanade near Barrack & William Street has changed the capacity, flow and nature of Perth Water and has restricted flow and flushing. Added to this the steadily declining winter rainfall has reduced the flushing effect and today Perth Water is not only shallower but very silty! Dramatic as it may seem dredging of Perth Water might be necessary to increase flow and flush out the river providing oxygenation in the process? This silty deposit has destroyed spawning grounds contributing to the declining fish and shellfish population. Regular oxygenation is required and possibly a large scale fountain mid river between Perth and South Perth would provide not only an interesting and attractive feature but also provide permanent aeration of the water?
ReplyDeleteMan made river walls have robbed the Swan of important nutrient filtration. These walls constructed largely to protect the banks from erosion caused by boatwash and to protect footpaths and roadways inadvertently damage the Swan. Perhaps its time to stop building walls and consider a blanket 8 knot speed limit on the Swan aside from yachts and designated jet ski and skiing areas? The huge craft now plying the Swan including the Rottnest Ferries create massive waves. If they are in such a hurry to get downstream then perhaps they should be based there?
ReplyDeleteThe peel Harvey estuary used to suffer enormously from algal bloom until the construction of the Dawesville Cut. The flushing effect wasnt immediately noticeable however as the months passed you could see the cleaning effect on the estuary as the water colour changed dramatically. There are two possible points to provide a second connection between the Swan and the Ocean the first being a bit radical the second being very possible! A pipeline type cut through the cliffs at Bindaring Parade linking up to Eric Street which could then become an open canal and the second is through Rocky Bay at North Fremantle to Leighton where the distance is only about 300 metres. The added tidal flushing effect on the Swan would be dramatic and help to counter hundreds of years of man made and climatic changes.
ReplyDelete12 dead crabs on White Beach in Dalkeith on Saturday morning just in the shallows. All pristine all untouched by shag or seagull. Not even the Blowies were interested - are they poison?
ReplyDeleteI was searching for some historical photographs of the land reclamation undertaken for The Narrows Bridge Interchange and came across one from 1940 which was from The Battye Library collection which shows the Swan 20 years before the Narrows. Look at the sizeable opening and the large expanse of water to the left right up to the foot of Spring and Mill Streets. The second photo shows the reclamation works and the vast area of river gobbled up for progress. Little wonder Perth Water is virtually stagnant and full of silty mud.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen, I think that you are onto something here that needs action. I can't believe how quiet every one was about the dredging of Fremantle Harbour. The silt that came up stream at least as far as Chidley Point would have been significant. You could see the colour change in the water.
ReplyDeleteI was moored near Claremont Yacht Club on the weekend and caught a Blue swimmer crab. Thinking about it afterwards it had pink on it's underside. I have heard that this is a sign that they are about to moult and also that it may be an infection. I would be interested to hear from some on in the know.
I do think that work should be done on the sand bar regarding the restriction that it causes and at least get a professional's opinion on it. If a chanel was cut close to the actual land then boats could take a short cut through there (at a no wash speed), saving fuel which is great for the enfironment and this could also assist helping to flush it. Just a thought. From memory it is probably about 8-10 years since it first started to be more permanent and vegetation started growing on it. Surely someone in one of our universities or the CSIRO etc who could have a qualified opinion on this. I wonder what the Swan River Trust is doing in this regard.
I like the fountain Idea as well as the others! We may have a better chance of getting funding for something that has a visual effect (the fountain) and recognition of a politician than the actual oxygenisation (my word of the day) benefits that it would have. Perhaps we could come up with suggestions for it’s name and then forward the ideas to 6PR and others? I wonder if Colin would promote Colin’s Cascade or perhaps Neptune Norman?
Really appreciate the feedback on Point Walter Spit and also the colouration of the crab. I have referred your comments to someone who will know for an opinion. The fountain can obviously serve both an aesthetic and functional role adding interest to Perth Water especially as the Perth Foreshore Project looks like getting active. Our good Premier might shy away from being associated with the naming of a water project but I am sure there are plenty that would put their hand up! Perhaps we could sell naming rights? Pattersons Plume or perhaps Viagra Falls?
ReplyDeleteJust read an interesting article on Wikki after a search on the jelly fish that dominate the Swan and Canning in the summer months. What got me thinking was what happens to the tonnes of these critters in our waterways when they die? I think that they are an introduces species.
ReplyDelete"However, their ability to consume plankton and the eggs and larvae of important fish species is cause for concern. Each jellyfish can filter as much as 13,200 gallons of sea water per day. While doing that, it ingests the plankton that native species need."
Full Wikki article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllorhiza_punctata
Has anyone ever tried to get rid of these guys if they are an introduced specie and doing harm here? Cheers
Great blog. It will be good to see some actions taken to help the swan come back to life.
ReplyDelete