Swan River Trust facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1989 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Western Australia |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Swan River Trust |
| Website | http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au |
The Swan River Trust was a special group that worked for the Western Australian government. Its main job was to look after the important Swan and Canning rivers. This group was set up in 1989 to protect these rivers.
The Trust was guided by a law called the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006. They reported to the Minister for Environment, who is a government leader in charge of nature and the environment.
Contents
What Was the Swan River Trust?
The Swan River Trust was a "statutory authority." This means it was a special organization created by a law. Its purpose was to manage and protect the health of the Swan and Canning rivers.
Before the Trust, there were other groups doing similar work. These included the Swan River Management Authority (from 1977 to 1989) and even earlier, the Swan River Conservation Board (from 1959 to 1976). The Trust continued this important work.
Protecting Our Rivers
The main goal of the Swan River Trust was to keep the Swan and Canning rivers healthy. This included making sure the water was clean and that the plants and animals living there were safe. They worked to prevent pollution and manage how people used the rivers.
The rivers are very important for the city of Perth. They provide a place for recreation, support wildlife, and are a beautiful part of the landscape. The Trust helped make sure these rivers would stay healthy for everyone.
Getting the Community Involved
The Swan River Trust believed that everyone could help protect the rivers. They had several programs to get people in Perth involved. These programs helped people learn about the rivers and how to care for them.
Some of their popular community programs included:
- River Guardians: This program encouraged people to become volunteers. They helped with clean-ups and other activities to protect the rivers.
- Dolphin Watch Project: Volunteers helped to watch and record information about dolphins living in the rivers. This helped scientists understand how the dolphins were doing.
- Ribbons of Blue: This program focused on educating students and teachers. It taught them about river health and how to protect water quality.
Changes to the Trust
On 1 July 2015, the Swan River Trust changed. Its staff and all its jobs were moved to another government group. This new group was the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
This change meant that the important work of protecting the Swan and Canning rivers continued. It just became part of a larger department that looks after many natural areas in Western Australia.
