Wetland management

The City manages the Yellagonga Regional Park wetlands in partnership with the City of Wanneroo and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).  

The City maintains several artificial wetlands by implementing various measures, including weed control, litter removal, the reintroduction of native vegetation, and the use of aerators to enhance water quality. 

To help care for our wetlands: 

• Keep dogs on leads around wetlands and pick up dog waste, even if it is in the bushland. 
• Leave birds and other wildlife to find their own food from nature. Feeding wildlife can make them sick and pollute the water. 
• Keep your cats inside at night and within your property boundaries during the day.
• Stay on pathways to avoid trampling native vegetation. 
• Not dump unwanted fish into wetlands. 
• Plant locally native plants in your home garden to provide more habitat for native animals. 
• Pick up litter from wetlands and bushland areas. Consider organising or participating in a Clean Up Australia Day event for your local natural area. 
• Avoid or limit your use of chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides, on your property. These may get washed off your property onto roads and into stormwater drains that can feed into wetlands. Alternatively, the chemicals can leak through the soil into groundwater, which moves into wetlands over time. 
• Join a volunteer group that cares for local wetlands such as Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park or Woodvale Waters Friends of Beenyup Channel. These volunteer groups conserve the wetlands by removing weeds, replanting native vegetation, and hosting educational events. View Friends groups on the community directory.

Wetlands are under increasing pressure. Some of the threats to wetlands include: 

• changed water levels 
• weeds 
• fire 
• acid sulphate soils exposure 
• plant diseases 
• vandalism and rubbish dumping 
• water pollution by chemicals and litter. Many stormwater drains on roads connect to underground pipes which flow into the wetlands. These drains can carry pollution such as fertilisers washed off home gardens, oil from cars, and rubbish, directly into wetlands 
• habitat loss and fragmentation caused by clearing of native vegetation. In many areas, bushland has been cleared and replaced with houses, roads and grassed parks 
• introduced animals, such as foxes, rabbits, domestic pets, feral fish and birds. 

The Yellagonga Regional Park wetlands include rich and dynamic ecosystems ranging from upland forest, fringing vegetation, aquatic vegetation, and open water bodies. These ecosystems provide important habitat for many plants and animals. The park provides a home to many animals, including: 

• Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos 
• Western grey kangaroos 
• Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) 
• Brushtail possums 
• Echidnas 
• Southwestern snake-necked turtles 
• Rakali (water rat) 
• Tiger snakes 
• Six different species of frogs 
• Over 120 bird species. 

To view the City’swetland management plans visit the publications page.