Canning River Regional Park
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Cultural Recognition
Canning River Regional Park and Kent Street Weir are situated on Whadjuk Noongar Country.
Noongar people are the traditional owners and custodians of the south-west of Western Australia. Noongar boodjar (country) is defined by 14 different areas with 3 dialectal groups.
Whadjuk is the name of the dialectal group from the Perth area in which the Canning River Regional Park is situated.
Overview of Kent Street Weir
Welcome to Kent Street Weir located on the riverfront within the Canning River Regional Park in Wilson.
The Canning River Regional Park offers a variety of bushwalking, cycling, kayak and canoe trails following along the beautiful Canning River (Djarlgarro Beeliar).
The Weir at Kent Street Weir is a partition in the Djarlgarro Beeliar that keeps salty water to one side and fresh water on the other. This allows for two different ecosystems to exist side-by-side, making this Regional Park an important refuge for a variety of bird and other wildlife.
Kent Street Weir is a popular spot for families, with access for people with disabilities, with ACROD parking, wide open paths, public and unisex accessible toilets, dual-height barbecues and sheltered picnic tables.
The open expanses of grassed areas make it a great spot to play and explore with friends and family. Along the banks of the river there is also a canoe/kayak launch where you can experience sand and water play as well as canoeing and kayaking.
Visit the friendly staff and volunteers at the Canning River Eco Education Centre (lovingly known as CREEC), where you can learn more about the important biodiversity in the Canning River Regional Park. CREEC is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Another great way to explore the Regional Park is to visit Castledare Miniature Railway with over 5km of track to ride. The train takes about 10 minutes and winds through the bush and wetlands. Castledare is open to the public on the third Sunday each month (with additional opening hours during the school holidays).
Please beware of snakes during warmer summer months and ensure children are supervised around the Weir and other bodies of water.
photo credit: Travis Hayto
Download the free Every Kid in a Park app for a digital tour of Amenities & Points of Interest and to access the Interpretive Trail
Amenities & Points of Interest
- Accessible toilets
- BMX bicycle track
- Canning River Café
- Canning River Eco Education Centre
- Canoe launch area
- Carpark
- Castledare Miniature Railway
- Dog exercise area
- Drinking fountain
- Fishing
- History and stories of the weir
- Little Street Library
- Playground
- Universal barbecues
- Walk trails
Download the Every Kid in a Park app to use the interpretive map featuring photographs of each point and additional information.
Interpretive Trail
The Kent Street Weir Interpretive Trail allows you to learn more about the history of the area and get a glimpse of the beautiful fauna and flora of the Djarlgarro Beeliar (Canning River). The area is home to 97 species of birds. Commonly spotted birds include cormorants, swamp hens, ibises, pelicans, egrets, ducks and spoonbills.
This is a loop trail consisting of five (5) stops. It starts and ends at the bridge and is also wheelchair and pram friendly. Take time to enjoy your surroundings – there are so many hidden treasures to spot in nature!
Resources
Nature Play WA has created fun and interactive resources for Canning River Regional Park with a focus on Kent Street Weir. Check them out below.
Kent Street Weir Resources
This Accessible Nature guide has been developed for Kent Street Weir in Canning River Regional Park. This document is available to download here, to help you plan your visit. Download Your Copy
For over 10 years, Tracy Lyon has proudly worked as an administration officer and community liaison at Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC). She’s also a Wilson local, living just down the road from Kent Street Weir. So, it’s no surprise that Tracy has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the animals, […]
This resource has been developed for Kent Street Weir in Canning River Regional Park. This document is available to download here, to help you plan your visit. Download Your Copy
Every Kid in a Park Resources
Discover fun activities to do at any park!
Become a master of scents by searching for and combining the best smells of nature. Can you create the perfect perfume? This document is available to download as a PDF or Accessible Word version, to help you plan your visit. Download PDF version Download Accessible Word version
Sounds are only for our ears……. or are they? Find a quiet spot to sit and listen. What can you hear? Use this activity sheet to record and describe the sounds. This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Use this activity sheet to go on an adventure and explore textures around the park! Touch leaves, bark and even the ground, and describe the features. This document is available as a PDF and an Accessible Word version, to help you plan your visit. Download PDF Download Accessible Word version
With the help of this activity sheet, you’re going to attempt to overcome a fear. That means it’s time to put on a brave face! This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Explore the world through your feet with the help of this activity sheet. On your next outdoor adventure, take off your shoes and play barefoot for a new sensory experience! This document is available to download here. Download your copy
For some people, finding a special quiet place helps them connect to nature. Use this activity sheet to find a place in nature of your own. This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Plants grow in all shapes and sizes; just like people! Use this activity sheet to explore the natural environment, or have someone describe it to you. This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Find a good place to sit or lay down and watch the clouds in the sky. Take notice of their colours, textures and shapes, or have someone describe these to you. Use this activity sheet to create a story in the sky! This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Being aware of your surroundings is a wonderful skill. In this activity, you will be using your senses to test your awareness of the natural environment! This document is available to download here. Download your copy
There are so many colours in the natural world. In this activity, you’ll head outdoors with a trusted person as you explore the rainbow of colours and count the shades of nature together. This document is available to download here. Download your copy
Biodiversity
The Canning River Regional Park is home to many important plants and animals. These include estuarine plants like samphires, soft needled swamp sheoak and salt-tolerant melalecuas.
Freshwater plants such as flooded gums, river banksia and freshwater melaleucas can also be found here.
There are 97 species of birds in the Canning River Regional Park. Commonly spotted waterbirds are cormorants, swamp hens, ibis, pelican, egret, ducks and spoonbills.
Upstream of the weir, the river environment is home to freshwater-dependent flora and fauna, including native fish such as the western pygmy perch and western minnow, reptiles such as the oblong tortoise and crayfish such as gilgies and marron.
Visit Explore Parks WA website for more information about Canning River Regional Park.
Acknowledgements
Nature Play WA would like to thank the City of Canning, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation for providing valuable information about Kent Street Weir and the importance of the Canning River, Djarlgarro Beeliar.