Students learn nature's secrets at constructed wetland

Environmental science students at Southern Cross University visited the Slaters Creek constructed wetland in North Lismore today to learn about modern stormwater treatment techniques.

Lismore City Council commissioned the $180,000 wetland to improve the creek’s water quality – identified as containing high levels of pollution – before it enters the Wilsons River.

The wetland is now showing good signs of working efficiently following a period of settling. It is also attracting bird life and has improved the amenity of public open space in the area.

The students attending the tour are studying Ecotechnology for Water Management – a third-year unit in the School of Environment, Science and Engineering taught by Dr Antony McCardell.

“One of the great benefits of the environmental science courses at Southern Cross University is the very wide range of natural and manmade environments available for students to visit on field trips,” Dr McCardell said.

“With increasing human impacts on waterways there is a growing need for urban planning to approach stormwater and wastewater management in ways that benefit both humans and the environment. Students of water-sensitive urban design can learn a lot by visiting real examples such as the constructed wetland at Slaters Creek.”

A technical analysis of the wetland was provided by Katrina Curran from the Water and Carbon Group, which designed the wetland and monitors it.

“The installation of stormwater wetlands has many benefits and it is great to see Lismore City Council taking the initiative in restoring a degraded and neglected waterway,” said Ms Curran, who is also a casual teaching assistant at SCU.

“Wetland habitats have been severely impacted as a result of urban development through changes to both water quality and quantity entering waterways. New urban areas are now required to treat stormwater but this project is important as it seeks to improve water quality and biodiversity in an area that has already been developed."

Ms Curran said the wetland functioned in treating stormwater runoff from the surrounding roads and urban areas in North Lismore.

“Pollutants are washed off the road and into the wetland when it rains and then removed through processes such as sedimentation and filtration through the natural treatment system of the wetland. In addition to improving water quality the wetland enhances local biodiversity through replacing weeds with native plants that provide habitat and food for a range of birds, frogs and invertebrates.”

As well as treating stormwater effectively by mimicking nature’s own systems of filtration, the wetland complements restoration work undertaken by the Banyam/Baigham Landcare Group over the last few years.

The group has planted thousands of native trees, shrubs and groundcovers near the wetland site, an area which holds cultural significance for local Indigenous people as it was previously an Aboriginal wetland hunting ground.

Photo: Environmental science students Sam Walker (left) and Trent McIntyre inspect the Slaters Creek wetland.