Watermark   

There are a number of exciting projects regularly being carried out by various groups in our local region that Watermark is pleased from time to time to support in a variety of ways. The 2008 Wade Creek Wetland Project in Traralgon is one such project.

This is a very large and creative project where everybody is a winner. The project centres on the establishment of 96 residential homes on a new subdivision, construction of various sporting grounds for the St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, the development of an additional 4ha of public wetlands, the construction of naturalized waterways and the rehabilitation of flood-plain habitat on Wades Creek.

The stormwater coming from the new houses and the school is collected and “treated” in the wetlands before being either recycled for use in the school and on the sporting grounds, which reduces the use of potable water by an amazing 85% and/or the clean water is returned to the Latrobe River and hence to the Gippsland Lakes system. This clean water reduces the pollution load in the Lakes.

The initiative came from Mr Ian Sowerby of I & H Management Services who, in conjunction with St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, joined with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to gain State Government support to the tune of $250,000. The overall project budget was $1.65 million funded by $150K cash and kind from the WGCMA, $250K State Government, $250K from St Paul’s School and over $1 million from I&H through cash and services provision by their associated company, Sure Constructions.