Give a damn about the Swan?

The Swan River Trust is now telling swimmers not to enter the water after heavy rain because of sudden flushed roadside and drain pollution...
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Generations of Western Australians have fond memories of swimming, crabbing, boating and generally enjoying the Swan River, however with the river now in serious environmental decline, many of these activities risk being consigned to the history books.

The Swan River Trust recently reported that the amount of nutrient pollution entering the river at present is still roughly double the maximum levels that can be tolerated if the river health is to be restored. This means we have to reduce fertiliser pollution entering the river by at least 50%.

Unfortunately the Minister for the Environment has not implemented the Fertiliser Action Plan, instead choosing to rely on continued voluntary approaches by the fertiliser industry and regulations for domestic garden fertilisers which have a relatively lower contribution to the problem.

In addition, the Minister recently announced further funding to pump more oxygen into the dying river to counteract the polluting impact of all the fertiliser pollution. This is nothing more than an expensive band-aid which in effect is a subsidy for the fertiliser industry to keep making polluting products.
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