The City of Belmont has transformed a once underused stormwater drain into a thriving living stream where people, plants, and wildlife can flourish.

The Brearley Avenue Living Stream project has delivered more than 40,000 native plants and 150 trees across 5,500 square metres, replacing grass and weeds with flowering groundcovers, shrubs, and trees.

City of Belmont Mayor Robert Rossi said the project reflects the City’s commitment to caring for the environment.

“We want the City of Belmont to be a place where nature and people thrive together.

“By working in partnership with other agencies we have created a natural corridor that supports biodiversity and enhances local amenity.

“From an underused drain to a living stream, this project is proof of what we can achieve when we work together,” Mayor Rossi said.

The transformation was made possible through strong partnerships with the Water Corporation, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), WALGA and the Government of Western Australia.

The project is part of the Water Corporation’s Assets for Liveability Program, delivered in collaboration with DWER.

The project also received support through the Urban Greening Grant Program, delivered by WALGA and funded through the State Government.

The Urban Greening Grant Program provided $3.75 million to expand tree and vegetative cover in the Perth and Peel regions, delivering 33,000 trees and 260,000 understorey species across 43 Local Government projects. The Brearley Avenue project alone contributed 40,000 understorey plants, making a significant contribution to the program.

WA Local Government Association President Karen Chappel said it was great to see critical partnerships between WALGA and the State Government planting more trees across the State and boosting tree canopy.

“We acknowledge the City of Belmont’s efforts through the Brearley Avenue Living Stream project,” WALGA President Karen Chappel AM JP said.

"These trees will ultimately deliver a long-term improvement in the liveability of these communities, and we will continue to work with the State Government on improving our tree canopy.

“WALGA has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts in calling for measures to increase urban canopy across the State for many years.

“Our 2026-27 State Budget Submissions calls on the State Government to invest $40 million over 10 years, to expand the Urban Canopy Grant Program and deliver an additional 200,000 new trees and 4 million understorey plants.”

The City continues to work with WALGA on other initiatives, including recent climate-ready tree trials, which aim to identify species that will thrive under future climate conditions.

The Brearley Avenue Living Stream project is just one of the ways the City is delivering on the outcomes of its Environment and Sustainability Strategy 2023-2033.