Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Stormwater Project

In this monthly series, the riches of Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve are explained by Crispin Hemson, Glenwood resident and chair of the Friends of Pigeon Valley. This is the 121st article in the series that highlights urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on the Pigeon Valley stormwater project.

There is at last good news on the stormwater project that started in October 2019 and that should have finished well over a year ago. Work started on the filling and concreting of paving that links the different drainage chambers at the beginning of August and that work is already close to completion. What this means is that water from the paved areas above the park will flow into pipes that take it into a retention pond. From there, it empties onto the brick paving and then down to the stormwater drains that lead into the Bay.

The new paving will prevent any erosion on the drainage line; excess water will flow into the chambers. People walking up the track will be able to use the concrete paving, at least part of the way.

Also read: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The surging creepers

The final stage of this project will be the rehabilitation of the area that was stripped of plants; only locally indigenous plants will be used, where possible sourced from the Valley itself. The Friends of Pigeon Valley are hoping that a further project will be undertaken to repair the paving below the retention pond. At present water tends to seep from the pond onto the brick paving, making the surface slippery and treacherous; if there is a side channel to take that excess flow, walking will be safer.

Also read: Exploring Pigeon Valley: Fiscal Flycatcher

This is an opportunity to see if we can create two things we have been wanting to achieve – first, a steep bank that might entice kingfishers to breed there, secondly, an area that would be damp enough for a little wetland. There are a couple of possibilities being considered. Even if we do not achieve this, though, at least the disruption to the reserve is ending – we will now be pressing for a long-needed refencing of the whole reserve, with the fence positioned up the banks and close to the roads that border the reserve.

A brief note on the birding – the famous Spotted Ground-Thrushes have been present in good numbers, my guess is 4-6; they are likely to leave a couple of weeks. Green Twinspots are often in evidence on the main track, even in the rubble at the entrance, and our friend the Spotted Eagle-Owl remains in the area.