Further to our post of 9 June equestrian representatives met with consultants from Alluvium on 21 July to discuss five proposed water quality management projects in Canberra’s public open spaces used by local horse riders. The following is a summary report of the projects:
Fadden Pines, Gowrie
Riders from Macarthur Paddocks use the wide northern verge of Isabella Drive to do a loop back through the Fadden Pines District Park or to travel on toward Lake Tuggeranong. Agistees from Gilmore Paddocks also have the option of getting to Fadden Pines via an underpass near Forde Place in Chisholm. The proposed rain garden will be a shallow depression between the northern side of Isabella Drive and Fadden Pines just to the east of the underpass and will incorporate vegetation and filtering media such as geo-sand to remove nutrients and sediment in stormwater run-off. Alluvium have agreed to move the garden as close as possible to Isabella Drive so it is between horses and traffic with plenty of room for riders to pass by to the north. This will also ensure a direct line of sight into the underpass.
Athllon Drive between Langdon Avenue and Fincham Crescent, Wanniassa
Riders follow the southern verge of Athllon Drive from Farrer Ridge toward Lake Tuggeranong. Water management ponds and a rain garden are to be installed near St Anthony’s Primary School. Alluvium have agreed to move this string of storm water filters as close as possible to the school to leave plenty of room in the wide verge.
Dixon Drive west of the Weston Creek drain and the Cotter Road underpass, Holder
This is a much more extensive project involving two wetlands and a settling pond. They will be located near an existing drainage line opposite Hyndes Crescent in Holder. The wetlands will help remove nutrients from stormwater by providing a habitat for reeds, grasses and trees which use the nutrients to grow while removing sediments and reducing the speed of water flows. All the new works will be behind the existing stock fence and the broad verge up to Eucumbene Drive presently used by riders will be unaffected.
Reynolds Street, Curtin
There is a long area of green space parallel to McCulloch Street in Curtain which is used by riders from North Curtin and Illoura paddocks as part of riding loops between the two facilities. Just where Reynolds Street makes a ninety degree bend is a large area of open space containing a children’s playground. It is proposed to turn about half of this area into a large rain garden. This amounts to ephemeral ponds which will be mainly dry unless there is heavy rain. The area will be landscaped to incorporate vegetation and filtering media to remove nutrients and sediment. Alluvium propose to provide access around this feature so as to encourage cyclists onto a pathway to the west of the rain garden leaving open space under trees on the eastern side to horses.
Yarralumla Creek Stabilisation
This is a major project with proposed works at various places all along the Creek between the Cotter Road and its junction with the Molonglo River. In the last 20 years, especially since the willows and poplars were removed from the its banks, Yarralumla Creek has eroded down to bedrock and is now starting to eat sideways into Equestrian Park. Remedial work is urgently require. The lower banks will be landscaped with rock work to prevent ongoing erosion and the upper banks will be revegetated to improve stability and filter run-off.
Implications for Equestrians
The construction of all of these projects will have some impact on local riders if only during the stage when large machinery will be in use. There will also be a period when disturbed areas are fenced off to allow vegetation to establish. All of the projects will have little impact on the long term access for horse riders and only the Reynolds Street project may change the way riders currently use that open space. The Yarralumla Creek stabilisation is a big project and will be carried out in close consultation to the Equestrian Park Management Group in order to minimise the collateral impact on the facility and its ongoing use.
Time Line
Alluvium expect to hold another public information session about the final design of projects before Christmas and individual projects will begin to be rolled out across Canberra from the New Year. They have until March 2019 to complete. ACTEA has undertaken to keep local riders informed about when individual projects are to commence.
You can find out more about the overall project at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/act-basin-priority-project