ABOUT 60 people enjoyed sausages and vegetarian patties at a barbecue hosted by Hurstville Council to celebrate the completion of the first stage of the Webbs Dam upgrade.
The dam at Evatt Park, Lugarno, had been fenced off for several months while the council performed the first stage of upgrade work that included extensive landscaping and the installation of a raingarden.
Hurstville mayor Jack Jacovou said the raingarden above the dam would capture and treat stormwater flows.
‘‘This will help improve biodiversity outcomes within the downstream creek and the receiving waters of Salt Pan Creek, which flows
into the Georges River,’’ Cr Jacovou said.
‘‘Essentially, the raingarden works by filtering the stormwater from the surrounding 13 hectares before water enters the dam.
‘‘The environmental benefits include improved water quality that benefits downstream habitats, and the enhancement of surrounding bushland that will help to improve biodiversity.’’
The council had conducted extensive community consultation to outline design elements of the project.
‘‘As a result of community feedback, council softened the edges of the dam as well as undertook extensive rejuvenation to further improve biodiversity and ensure the dam’s bank stability,’’ Cr Jacovou said.
‘‘By including thousands of native plants on the edges of the dam it is helping also to minimise sediment and rubbish from entering the dam via overland stormwater flows.’’
Lugarno Progress Association president Joan Curtis could not be more pleased.
She said the association had lobbied the council for about 10 years to do something about the dam.
‘‘It is a beautiful picnic spot and everyone is very happy with it,’’ Mrs Curtis said.
Cr Jacovou said second stage planners would study whether dam water could be used to irrigate the adjoining Evatt Park sports field.
Hurstville City Council provided more than $145,000 for the Webbs Dam upgrade and the with the Lower Georges River Urban Sustainability Initiative contributed $300,000 through the NSW Environmental Trust.
The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority provided $40,000, and an Office of Environment and Heritage program contributed $245,700.
Have you seen the upgrade? Do you like it?
