Wetlands as filters

Farm Dam acts as a filter, catching rainwater running off the land adjoining the wetlands.

As well as providing habitat, this pond:

• holds run-off to allow sediments to sink
• allows some pollutants to be broken down by the sun
• allows plants to soak up excess nutrients from the run-off
• provides reeds and waterplants to filter suspended sediments
• allows clean water to flow on to other ponds and marshes on-site

Water from this dam can be pumped into BHP Pond to top up the water level and prevent the water there from becoming stagnant.

Farm Dam was built as a demonstration dam by former CEO Brian Gilligan to demonstrate how farm dams can support wetland functions.

In the early days Farm Dam was used to provide water for the grounds and also to act as a pollutant trap for water flowing onto the site from Tuxford Park and surrounding areas.

The water that flows from here into the other ponds and then into Ironbark Creek is always a lot cleaner when it leaves that when it arrived.

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