New Blayney wetlands are a collaborative project

The project has been generated through close collaboration between Blayney Shire Council and the Central Tablelands Local Land Services and are part of a push to deliver projects that aim to return stormwater flow to a more natural regime.

"Urbanisation has resulted in large impervious area's which dramatically increase the run off quantity, and frequency, following rain events. These increases are detrimental to stream health, and in recent years it has become desirable to undertake works such as the installation of these wetlands to capture runoff and allow it to absorb into the ground, rather than run off to the streams," Council's Operations Manager, Nathan Skelly said.

"In addition to the reduction in stormwater velocity, the plantings in wetlands also assist with the removal of contaminants that tend to be carried by stormwater that would traditionally end up in streams."

Council's Parks and Recreation staff undertook the on-ground work, which includes an open swale with plantings of native reeds, Bulrush, and Club-rush, utilising old logs and rock drop structures to control the flow.

"Given the projects environmental focus, the majority of materials utilised in the project have been repurposed, with the only expenditure on materials being the grass seed for these works. The plants have been transplanted from another wetland within Blayney, the logs were reclaimed as part of the replacement of the bridge at the end of Ogilvy Street, and the rocks utilised are from overburden at Council's quarry," Mayor Cr Scott Ferguson said.

"Unfortunately the plants are generally dormant at this time of year, and Council is looking forward to spring when the plants emerge and flourish enhancing the appearance of the wetlands and another section of the Belubula River."