Edith Bay Wetland

Council received a grant from the NSW Government's Georges River Foreshore Improvement Program in 2002 to upgrade the Edith Bay foreshore area at Lugarno with a new wetland and boardwalk.

The project was jointly funded on a dollar for dollar basis by Council, has greatly enhanced the value of the local environment and adds to the recreational opportunities for the area.

The project included installation of several new boardwalks and associated pathways from the old ferry ramp at the end of Forest Road up to Edith Bay Reserve. It also included the construction of a new wetland in the Reserve, involving the removal of all existing invasive weeds and replacement with native wetland vegetation.

A Continuous Deflective Separator unit to trap pollution was installed to capture litter, bottles, cigarette butts, garden clippings and other rubbish which ends up in the stormwater system. The wetland also includes a microphyte pond which increases the level of stormwater treatment, through filtering sediments, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.

With the establishment of the new wetland, stormwater from 48 per cent of Hurstville City's section of the Georges River catchment will be treated before entering the Georges River. Educational signage will be erected to inform residents and visitors about the project and the historical significance of the site, as it was a major ferry crossing point for the Georges River, from early settlement up until the early 1970s.

The new wetland and boardwalk was officially opened in March 2004.