World Wetlands Day will be celebrated in Orange on Friday, but ECCO spokesman Neil Jones said 100 millimetres of rain across the weekend had proven wetlands were useful beyond boosting water storage.

About 30 millimetres fell across three storms between Friday and Sunday and Mr Jones spent Saturday’s storm in the Ploughmans Valley. 

“It proved their true worth in slowing down the stormwater rushing with these intense storms that cause downstream flooding,” he said.

“I spoke to a resident in Ammerdown Crescent who said he didn’t get the flooding he used to get.”

While the wetlands and stormwater harvesting system have been in place for some years, Mr Jones said vegetation had grown over time and slowed water flow more efficiently.

“Out of the Wentworth Estate, the water passed into the swampy meadow and slowly dispersed into the stormwater ponds and progressed downstream,” he said.

“The other wetlands do the same thing.”

ECCO will hold a display at North Orange Shopping Centre from 10am to 3pm on Friday.

On Saturday, walk-and-talk inspections will be held at the Ploughmans Wetland from 8am to 10am. 

Everyone is welcome, call 0490 087 424 for enquiries.