March 2023 Update: Please note that the Wetlands fills from stormwater run off and has dried up. Please contact WWSC direct to report issues. Ph 03 5392 7700
The Kaniva Wetlands and Fauna Park is a popular spot with locals and visitors alike featuring:
It also home to the original engine that was used to provide the electricity to the town from 1925 - 1964.
The park is an easy 350 metre stroll from the Kaniva Visitor Centre, just follow the Sheep Art Trail to bring you to the start of it. The Fauna Park contains one White Western Grey Kangaroo, two Grey Western Greys. two Red-necked Wallabies, a deer, an emu and a peacock. The aviary is home to Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Regent Parrots, Western Rosellas, Cockatiels, Princess Parrots, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-capped Parrot and a Galah.
There is plenty of easy parking suitable for caravans and RVs, free BBQ & toilets. So enjoy a picnic or BBQ as part of your visit to this interesting area run by our localLions Club, volunteers and WWSC Parks and Garden Staff. Please assist us in keeping this area clean by using the rubbish bins and doggie poo bags.
The park has accessibility friendly features including walking tracks, family swing and toilets. The best time to visit to capture the incredible wild bird life and sounds is early morning and late afternoon.
Download the Actionbound app and play thewetlands walking track game.The walk takes around 15 minutes and follows the educational walking trail pathways.
The Wetlands and Fauna Park was upgraded in 2018/19 as part of a community partnership project instigated by Kaniva & District Progress Association thanks to community contributions from KDPA, Kaniva Lions, Landcare, Purple Starfish, West Wimmera Women on Farms, Kaniva Rotary Club, federal, state and WWSC funding. The Meyer family kindly donated the historic engine from the power house as a point of interest at the start of the park.
History The Kaniva Fauna Park was established by the Kaniva Rotary Club in the 1980s, later on the Lions Club with help from Kaniva Landcare established and maintained the wetland area which was opened in 2003. It required significant maintenance after a number of the bridges fell into disrepair. In 2014, the then Landcare facilitator, Phil Falcke suggested it could also make an ideal educational nature play space. KDPA approached council with the idea of a pooling funds as a community partnership project and it was listed as a priority project on the social infrastructure report. A number of community meetings were held and ideas brainstormed to create a destination place making project with improved live-ability for residents. WWSC's Kellie Jordan then applied to the federal National Stronger Regions Fund and the application was fortunate to be selected in what was a highly competitive grant for $600K in October 2016. The Dept of Sport and Rec then contributed $100K to the play area and fitness equipment in 2017. After numerous delays and changes, work was completed in September 2019. The total project was $1.215 million.