Water
Water efficiency measures and water sensitive design are important in reducing pressures on water supply and availability, and to support urban cooling.
Our Natural Environment
Our natural environment is precious and needs protection. Find out what you can do to look after it and see what steps the City is taking.
Gardening and Biodiversity
Spending time in nature is good for us, with research showing that it improves our mental and physical health. Growing your own food, and planting native waterwise plants can help improve the wellbeing of your family and of local wildlife.
Water
Climate change has led to a decline in rainfall and increase in temperature in Perth, a trend projected to continue. When combined with increasing water consumption, this is putting pressure on Perth’s water supply and availability. Additionally, flash flooding events are predicted to become more frequent and severe.
- Use the Water Corporations online tool to compare how waterwise your household is compared to your neighbourhood.
- Borrow a home water audit kit free of charge.
- Use Water Corporations online leak detection tool.
- Purchase waterwise products. Aim for appliances with a WELS star rating of 4 or more.
- While waiting for water to heat up, collect cold water in a bucket and use it to water the garden or fill up a drinking water jug.
- Keep showers to under 4 minutes by using a timer or picking a song from Water Corporations waterwise shower songs playlist.
- Remember the three Ps – only toilet paper, pee and poo down the toilet. Learn what not to flush.
- Only use your sprinklers on your allocated watering days before 9am or after 6pm.
- Check your irrigations efficiency with this handy guide and switch off over winter or if rain is predicted.
- Apply soil wetter, compost and mulch to garden beds to improve moisture retention. Add clay to sandy soils.
- Learn how to be Fertilise Wise.
- Keep wildlife, rivers and wetlands healthy by picking up rubbish and dog poo, using fishing line bins and not feeding wildlife.
- Look for waterwise rebates and offers from Water Corporation and Switch Your Thinking.
- Learn more ways to reduce your water use from Switch Your Thinking and the City’s Build Smart Live Smart Guide (PDF 1.2MB).
- Be prepared for extreme weather events.
Water Sensitive Cities Vision
In May 2018, Council endorsed a Vision for a Water Sensitive Canning. This Vision provides direction on improving the City’s water sensitivity. Work is underway to develop strategies and actions to achieve the Vision, and there will be opportunities for the Canning community to be involved.
Water Management Strategy
The Water Management Strategy (PDF 14MB) provides a framework for the achievement of better water management outcomes, consistent with the overall vision and objectives of the City. The objectives include:
- recognise the ecological, social and cultural importance of water
Waterwise Council
The Waterwise Council Program is a collaboration between the Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. The program supports local governments to improve water efficiency in Council operations and community activities.
The City of Canning has been accredited as a Waterwise Council since 2017 and is proud to be endorsed as a Gold Waterwise Council every year since 2018. This highlights our drive to improve liveability outcomes across the water cycle and help create a water sensitive city.
In 2019, the City of Canning was recognised as a Platinum Waterwise Council, the Waterwise Council of the year. To be recognised, councils must go beyond water efficiency and build sensitive water management into business as usual operations.
As part of being a Gold Waterwise Council, the Water Corporation proudly co-funds our street tree planting program and waterwise demonstration projects through the Waterwise Greening Scheme.
Learn more by visiting the Waterwise Council Program website.
Projects
- Wharf Street Basin
- Lambertia Creek Living Stream
Gardening and Biodiversity
Spending time in nature is good for us, with research showing that it improves our mental and physical health. Trees and plants have many benefits including:
- storing carbon dioxide
- reducing air temperatures
- absorbing water to help reduce the risk of flooding
- providing food, water and shelter for local wildlife
- removing pollutants from rain runoff before it flows into our waterways
- contributing to the health and wellbeing of our community.
Gardening for productivity is a great way to save money on groceries, reduce waste and improve your wellbeing by growing your own food at home.
- Sign up for Grow It Local, a free platform offering gardening workshops and a seed service grow along program.
- Join a local Community Garden! Find out more about Cannington Community Garden, Willetton Community Garden, and Bentley Community Garden.
- Build a Wicking Bed, a great way to grow food especially in warm dry weather. Watch this DIY IBC wicking bed video by Green It Yourself.
- Get composting. Improve your soil and the health of your plants while reducing food waste.
- Start a worm farm to curb food waste and boost your gardens productivity. Watch this How to start a Worm Farm video or How to Build an in-garden Worm Tower video.
- Learn tips and tricks for reducing food waste.
Gardening for biodiversity helps to provide local wildlife with food, water and shelter. Our region is one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet, however land clearing is resulting in habitat and species loss.
- Find out how you can retain existing trees on your property.
- Request a Street Tree.
- Attend the City’s Free Tree Giveaway.
- Nominate a Tree for the Significant Tree Register.
- Sign up with Rewild Perth for free access to gardening resources.
- Discover waterwise plant species for your garden.
- Understand the impact of fertilisers on our rivers, how to Fertilise Wise and grow local plants.
- Build a Frog Bog.
- Provide a home for native mammals, birds or microbats by building a nesting box.
- Install a bird bath, dampland or pond to create a wildlife friendly water source in your garden.
- Use bird friendly rodent controls around the home.
- Keep dogs and cats on a leash and away from wildlife.
- Consider installing a Catio to keep your cat, as well as native wildlife, safe.
- Join an Environmental Volunteer Community Group.
- Learn more about the bush birds and water birds of the Canning River.
- Learn about why it’s important not to feed wildlife.
- Get involved and protect wildlife with initiatives such as BirdLife Australia, ClimateWatch and TurtleWatch.
- Learn what to do if you see injured wildlife or snakes.
- Learn more about Snake Necked Turtles and the Turtle Tracker Program.
- Learn about frog calls and record them with the FrogID app.
- Report feral bees, cats or foxes to the City.
- Be prepared for extreme weather events.
- Learn about waterwise garden designs, plus soil advice and planting tips.
- Find out what soil type you have and suitable species to plant.
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