Canning and Swan waterways: Labor talk up plan for rivers ahead of election

LABOR candidate for Swan Tammy Solonec hosted a community meeting in Wilson last Friday with Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Mark Butler, and State Labor spokesman for environment and climate change Chris Tallentire.

It was an opportunity for residents to discuss the current state of the Canning and Swan waterways.

A Murdoch University study released this year found a sizeable section of the Canning River in Perth remains in poor condition and susceptible to fish kills despite overall improvement over the four-year research project.

Agricultural fertilisers, otherwise known as water-soluble fertilisers, have long been linked to nutrient build-up in the Swan and Canning waterways, which causes algal blooms.

Study author Chris Hallett told media at the time a long-term strategy to address nutrient build-up from agricultural fertilisers was needed to improve the health of the waterways.

The Swan and Canning rivers border the electorate of Swan.

During the meeting, residents also raised concerns over low rainfall levels in the state and the use of pesticides and sprays around the precious wetlands.

Plastic pollution was also raised as a major concern with one resident telling the Labor members he went with friends down to the river and picked up 436kg of plastic in a 200m stretch.

Ms Solonec said she would continue to address community concern.

“These rivers are an essential part of the ecosystem of Perth and we need to care for them for future generations,” she said.