The other main areas of conflict between ecological and social requirements revolved around local perceptions that natural attractions need to look bright, green and colourful – features that are in opposition to natural desert wetland habitats. The provision of a fast-growing, green, attractive screen around the reserve area, with an additional dual purpose of providing a noise barrier from the highway, resulted in the selection of a variety of plants, some of which were non-native and had low tolerance to highly saline conditions. Fast growth was secured, after long debate, by providing low-salinity irrigation water to plants along the wetland perimeter. Irrigation water was sourced from treated sewage effluent water, making ongoing nutrient enrichment of the system a threat.