Cleaning up the Canning Project Making Strong Progress
21 August 2025
The landmark Cleaning up the Canning project — backed by a $10 million Australian Government grant to improve the health and quality of rivers in Perth’s South East Corridor — is now well underway, with on-ground works progressing across multiple sites.
Mayors from the Cities of Armadale, Canning and Gosnells, and the Town of Victoria Park who jointly advocated for the funding through the South East Corridor Councils Alliance (SECCA) were joined by the CEOs of Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL) and Chair of the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group (AGLG) at a work site in Armadale to celebrate this milestone.
SECCA Chair Mayor Karen Vernon, said the commencement of on-ground work marks a significant step forward following the completion of complex governance and planning arrangements.
“This is a proud moment for our communities. We’ve moved from advocacy to action — delivering projects that will restore the Canning River and its tributaries, improve biodiversity, and create healthier green spaces for future generations,” Mayor Vernon said.
The Cleaning up the Canning initiative is made up of multiple sub-projects across Armadale, Canning and Gosnells. Works include:
Weed control and revegetation to restore riparian and aquatic habitats.
Drainage retrofits to improve water quality, hydrology, and biodiversity.
Sediment and litter management to reduce pollutants reaching waterways.
Catchment research and modelling to guide long-term restoration efforts.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt said the Albanese Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program is revitalising urban waterways, improving water quality, community access to nature and looking after local native species.
“Healthy environments rely on healthy waterways and nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants occur in urban areas. That’s what makes this funding such a critical investment in supporting local biodiversity for generations to come.
“We know that locals understand the needs in their community which is why the Albanese Government is supporting this great project to restore and better manage the Canning, Southern and Wungong Rivers.”
At the Wungong Champion Drive in Armadale, the drainage retrofit will convert a nutrient and sediment-rich stormwater drain into a thriving surface flow wetland improving water quality and enhancing local biodiversity. It will also increase community amenity, help cool the surrounding area, and foster a stronger connection between people, water, and nature.
This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL), Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, Whadjuk Traditional Owners, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Water Corporation and SECCA member councils.
Media Contact:
Dr Christopher Vas
Executive Officer, SECCA
E: chris.vas@canning.wa.gov.au