BALLARAT'S reputation as a leader in water catchment management will be further enhanced with the construction of a 3.3ha wetland in Dowling St Wendouree.
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Excavators are busy moving more than 50,000 cubic metres of soil to create three separate cells which will help flood control and improve the quality of water flowing into the Burrumbeet Creek.
The project has been planned for more than 20 years and will be known as Pauls Wetland after the family who owned a large piece of land including the wetland site.
City of Ballarat manager of parks and environment Hedley Thomson said flooding had been a problem in Wendouree since the suburb was first created and despite continued development in the area the situation had not been addressed until now.
He said the wetland would provide significant habitat and recreational qualities and would also include a series of informal walking paths.
Construction of the wetland is due to be completed in May and then the City of Ballarat will be looking for interested community groups to help with the planting of indigenous aquatic plants from June provided weather permits.
The wetland was funded by the City of Ballarat and the Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, which each provided $160,000, and the Environmental Protection Authority, which provided $280,000.
The project is one of a number of wetlands started after council passed the Ballarat Storm Water Management Plan in October last year.
Wetlands are under construction in Kinnersley Av Mt Clear and at Winter Creek near Delacombe.
The Yarrowee Redan Wetlands were also completed recently and will be officially opened at 11 am today as part of the Yarrowee Trail opening at the Gong Gong reservoir.
