From Wanneroo Times:

An environmental group has praised the City of Wanneroo for approving a $3 million project to improve the Wangara Sump and stormwater drainage system near the Yellagonga wetlands.

Wanneroo Council voted unanimously in favour of an upgrade project at this month’s meeting, designed to reduce the volume of stormwater entering the sump and the associated contaminated sediment.

The project would involve the installation of 16 “on-line” soakage points within the Wangara Industrial Estate catchment area on Luisini Park, next to Wanneroo Road.

They will accommodate 95 per cent of all rainfall events.

These “soakage cells” would also catch the “first flush” of stormwater from heavier weather activity.

Friends of Yellagonga committee member John Chester said the outcome was “well overdue”.

“This is a fabulous initiative by the City,” he said. “The design shows that there will be almost no overflow, except for that once-in-a-year storm.

“I am very excited to see how their plans pan out.”

The cells would be incorporated into public open space locations or in wide road reserves throughout the industrial estate area, the first of which will be constructed south of Prindiville Drive.

The City has allocated more than $390,000 in the 2009/10 budget for implementation of the first stage of the project.

Works will be carried out over a number of years subject to available funding.

JDA Consultant Hydrologists, the company commissioned to complete a study of the industrial estate by the City last year, also recommended the entire Wangara Sump be upgraded and redesigned once 20 per cent of the catchment was fitted with the cells.