On Monday 3 August 2009, the ACT Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water announced a call for tenders to design two wetlands ponds, worth $13.9 million dollars, in Dickson and Lyneham.
Wetland ponds serve several important purposes in the community, including improved landscape amenities and recreational opportunities as well as improved water quality. They will also help to protect several water species such as birds, turtles, yabbies and frogs into the urban environment.
The wetland ponds also reduce the risk of flooding in the catchment by regulating storm flows. But most importantly they will provide a non-potable water source for the irrigation of local green spaces including ovals and school ovals.
It is proposed that the Lyneham site will be located adjacent to Wattle Street where the Dickson concrete stormwater channel flows into the main concrete channel of Sullivans Creek. The proposed location for the Dickson pond is between Hawdon Street and Hawdon Place on the Dickson stormwater channel adjacent to the sportsgrounds.
The ACT Government will seek community views on the project, consulting widely for the development and location of the ponds starting in November 2009 through until their construction which is expected in March and April 2010
Consultants will be appointed in September and will assess options for ponds and prepare preliminary sketch plans by November 2009.
The tender brief can be viewed below or via the ACT Procurement Solutions website:
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