Willow Lake Item 12.4 Petition Willow Lake Park 1 TA15 Petition - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1

Willow Lake

Item 12.4 Petition – Willow Lake Park

TA14

2

Petition

On 25 July 2018 a petition bearing 31 elector signatures was received by the City which reads as follows:

“The Willow Tree Drive Lake is regularly maintained to keep shrubs and trees at a reasonable height and health to enhance the appearance of the Lake and safety of residents that frequent the path.”

TA15

3

TA16

4

• Inability to see the lake and wildlife due

to thick overgrowth. People are ‘hiding

• ut’ in this overgrowth and possibly

casing houses

• Residents are scared to walk through

this area from Willow Tree Drive to Knutsford Avenue in case someone is lurking nearby and scared for their personal safety

Concerns

TA17

5

• Whilst the lighting installed a few years

ago is helping to deter anti-social behaviour, residents are still concerned for their safety in day light, in this area due to overgrowth of the bushes

• At least a dozen dead trees which

encourage white ant in the area need to be removed

Concerns

TA18

6

• The area was created as a recreational

area the local community could enjoy, this lake is fast becoming a swamp

• There are also concerns when young

children are riding bikes or scooters around the lake and cannot be seen

Concerns

TA19

7

• The Council seem happy to maintain the

low level of bushes at Tomato Lake, why is our lake not being maintained to the same standard?

Concerns

TA20

8

TA21

9

The Pre- European Swan Coastal Plain contained numerous damp lands/ wetlands in a lineage of aquatic ecosystems. Perceived as dirty and unattractive these were later infilled to produce pastoral lots. TA22

10

TA23

11

TA24

12

TA25

13

TA26

14

TA27

15

City Assessment

• Looked into

– current maintenance to keep shrubs and trees at a reasonable height and health to enhance the appearance of the Lake – And safety of residents that frequent the path and lake

TA28

16

Vegetation

• Healthy fringing vegetation on stormwater

basins such as Willow Lake is very important

– Willow lake serves as a stormwater function and provides amenity and ecosystem services – Stormwater flows to these basins carrying with it nutrient and non-nutrient pollutants

• Phosphorus, nitrogen, metals, hydrocarbons

TA29

17

Vegetation

• Vegetation maintenance is

undertaken by the City’s Environment Crew

– Weed eradication – Rubbish removal – Vegetation pruning where required

• Path overgrowth

– Infill Planting as required

TA30

18

• Maintenance is however to support

an ecosystem service:

– Wetland and fringing vegetation is critical to the health of the waterbody and also adds to the health of our communities

Vegetation

TA31

19

• Without vegetation these

waterbodies can pose significant environmental, ecological and human health risks

– Toxic blue-green Algal blooms – Mosquitos & mosquito borne viruses – Loss of biodiversity – Odours

Vegetation

TA32

20

• Vegetation fringing (riparian) the

lake, at the waters edge (ephemeral) and submerged (aquatic) is key to preventing these health risks and each have unique ecosystem functions

Vegetation

TA33

21

• Fringing trees and vegetation provides shade and cools

the water and helps buffer the water body

• Floating, Semi-submerged and submerged vegetation is

critical for nutrient cycling

• Provides refuge for urban fauna and flora
• Reduces urban heat impacts
• Adds to the amenity and identity of the City
• Stabilises lake edges

Vegetation

TA34

22

Parks and Environment

• Parks and Environment

have

– thinned some of the vegetation assisting with

• views across the water
• Views along the path

– Removed dead trees

TA35

23

Parks and Environment

• Any further vegetation

removal or thinning is likely to detract from the health and amenity

• f the waterbody and

vegetation

TA36