In order to reduce the Gardens' reliance on potable water from the River Murray, a new wetlands system was constructed south of the Bicentennial Conservatory to hold stormwater diverted from First Creek.
He was chairman of the Heart Fund and a former member of the Rapides Parish Stormwater Management and Drainage District.
The Elizabeth Street drain runs from Carlton in the north to the Yarra River in the south, carrying stormwater from the inner northern suburbs and city centre.
A natural vegetation buffer exists along the Potomac River frontage, acting as a stormwater runoff filter and component of the Potomac River Greenway.
This part of the catchment area contains a motocross track, a golf driving range, a closed dump, and receives stormwater from the E18 traffic route.
It is also responsible for maintaining the quality of water that is released into public waterways including Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, both from stormwater runoff and sanitary sewage.
SPAWN’s water conservation program is focused on reducing the impacts of stormwater runoff on local streams and ensuring adequate in stream flow and spawning and rearing habitat for coho salmon and steelhead in the Lagunitas Creek.
Stormwater retention ponds constructed in the eastern section of the site have been transformed into wetland habitats, partially recreating the original character of the eastern part of the site, and this has attracted a wide variety of bird and animal life including Dusky Moorhens, Australian Magpies and Pelicans.