Federal Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese and Member for Barton Robert McClelland announced today that the construction of new wetlands at Cup and Saucer Creek is on track for completion in September.

The $900,000 project has been undertaken in partnership with Sydney Water, the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority and Canterbury City Council with assistance from the Australian Government as part of the $12.9 billion Water for the Future program.

The Federal Government contributed $335,000, Canterbury Council $285,000 and Sydney Water $285,000. Work began on the new wetland in early May.

Sydney Water’s contribution is the first stage of an $8 million investment to naturalise the banks of the Cooks River at three sites.

To create the wetlands, Sydney Water built a pipe to divert water flowing down Cup and Saucer Creek into the new wetland at Heynes Reserve. The water then flows through a series of water pools that will be densely planted. The plants and the bacteria growing on them will remove pollutants from the water, and deeper pools allow sediment to fall to the bottom for removal. Water will then re-enter the creek before it joins the Cooks River.

New viewing areas and walking paths have been incorporated into the design to allow community access to the new wetland area.

When completed, 60 people will have worked on the project, and 24,000 plants will have been planted including 37 different endemic plant species. The 2,250m2 wetland will remove around 5000kg of sediment from Cup & Saucer Creek per year. All excavated soil has been reused on-site and over fifty large sandstone blocks contributed by Canterbury Council, that were formerly kerb stones, will have been recycled into retaining walls, seating and fauna perches.

The wetlands will contribute to improving the overall health of the Cooks River by filtering stormwater runoff and establishing a local habitat for native wildlife and vegetation, while restoring some of the river’s natural character.

Cooks River Valley Association's Peter Munro and the Sydney Catchment Management Authority's Phil Sansom inspect work on the wetlands at Cup & Saucer Creek with Anthony and Member for Barton Robert McClelland.