GeoCatch NETWORK NEWS
Autumn 2018
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In this edition:
Revitalising Geographe Waterways; Fostering Responsible Pet Ownership; Celebrating our waterways; Community feedback on GeoCatch strategy; Farmers lead by example; Bay friendly verges; Facelift for Vasse diversion drain; Improving effluent management;
Ringtail Tally 2018
and; GeoCatch call for new members.
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Revitalising Geographe Waterways program update
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It’s been a highly successful year for the Revitalising Geographe Waterways program with scientists, managers, farmers, gardeners, government agencies, catchment groups and the broader community working together to improve water quality, health and management of Geographe waterways.
Key achievements in 2017 included reducing nutrient loss off farms through improved fertiliser and dairy effluent management, protection of riparian vegetation and application of soil amendments to decrease leaching of nutrients into local waterways.
The Bay Ok project demonstrated success in supporting sustainable gardening practices through the establishment of demonstration gardens, workshops and Bay OK gardening support materials.
City of Busselton improved urban stormwater management by installing rain gardens in the carpark of the new City Administration building.
Scientific trials were carried out over the 2017/18 summer to improve water quality and better understand the ecology of the waterways, including water treatment trials at the Lower Vasse River; seawater inflow trials at the Vasse Surge Barrier; and ecological monitoring at Toby Inlet and Vasse Wonnerup wetlands. Early results are positive with algae concentrations much lower this summer than recorded over the last few years and dissolved oxygen levels staying above critical levels.
Seasonal monitoring of water quality, water levels, aquatic plants, invertebrates, fish and birds has continued, improving our understanding of the relationship between water regimes (water levels and salinity) and the ecology of the wetlands. This will help to ensure holistic management supporting water quality improvement and ecology of the broader system.
With little more than a year left to run for the State Government funded Revitalising Geographe Waterways project, there is planning underway to develop a vision and strategies for future funding and governance for the project.
GeoCatch and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation are currently preparing the Revitalising Geographe Waterways project annual Report for 2017. The report will be released at a community update event in May.
For further information on any of the above mentioned project activities, please visit the project website:
https://rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au/
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The Revitalising Geographe Waterways program is supported by Royalties for Regions to improve water quality, waterway health and management of Geographe waterways.
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Celebrating our waterways
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Did you know that the Revitalising Geographe Waterways website features great information on
Geographe waterways
?
You may have noticed, GeoCatch are highlighting local waterways monthly in the local paper - we started with the
Annie Brook catchment
in March and this month we turned our attention to the
Buayanyup catchment
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Fostering Responsible Pet Ownership
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More than forty community members gathered in Busselton on the 15th of March to provide input on ways to reduce predation of domestic pets on critically endangered Western Ringtail Possums.
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Participants at GeoCatch’s Responsible Pet Ownership Workshop included community group representatives, State and local government agencies, vets, dog trainers, wildlife carers, pet owners and wildlife enthusiasts, who shared their own experiences, observations and insights on the real dilemmas associated with pet ownership and protection of local wildlife.
Information collected at the workshop will help co-design GeoCatch’s new project to foster responsible pet ownership strategies in the Geographe community.
“Research has shown that the leading causes of wildlife deaths are habitat destruction, car trauma, and predation by domestic and feral animals” said GeoCatch’s
Peppies for Possums
Project Officer Nicole Lincoln.
“GeoCatch believes there is real potential to work with the local community to successfully foster responsible pet ownership in order to protect our local western ringtail possum populations from predation by domestic pets. With a collaborative mindset, we’re confident that together we can create a well-designed and innovative project,” said Nicole.
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The Peppies for Possums
project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
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Community have their say on GeoCatch strategy
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Thanks to everyone who participated in GeoCatch's Community Views survey in February.
Results from the survey will now be collated, alalysed and integrated into GeoCatch's new catchment management strategy.
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Late last year, GeoCatch sought input from the community on the development of the new management strategy for the Geographe Catchment.
Approximately 100 community members shared the environmental values and issues important to them, by attending GeoCatch's community views session, or by participating in the Community Views Survey.
One lucky survey participant Allison has won a family pass to the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory.
Information collected will assist GeoCatch in setting future priorities to protect the environment through its review of the Geographe Catchment Management Strategy, which was last updated in 2008.
Results of the survey show that having healthy waterways, wetlands and Geographe Bay, and protecting native flora and fauna are important priorities for the Geographe community.
Emerging issues such as a changing climate, securing ongoing funding, and education were also highlighted as being important considerations for future planning and management of the environment.
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This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, supported by Royalties for Regions.
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Case study soil testing farmers to boost confidence in best practice fertiliser use
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GeoCatch has begun work with farmers in the catchment who are keen to share their experiences of participating in the soil testing program.
GeoCatch will track farmer knowledge, fertiliser applications and cost savings as a result of participating in the project. Farmers will also have the opportunity to provide feedback on soil testing and nutrient mapping products and input on how future projects could be improved.
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"Through participating in the program we are learning how to utilise the phosphorous already stored in our soil and identifying where we have pH issues are across the farm," said Joe Dunstall who farms with his father Syd on a Busselton beef property.
Case study farmers will share their experience with other farmers through information provided on the Revitalising Geographe Waterways website and other promotional material.
GeoCatch will be providing support to case study farmers throughout the project until June 2019, with assistance from local agronomist Graham Mussell. Graham will undertake the additional soil and tissue testing and provide agronomic support to the farmers involved.
Thirty farmers have participated in the soil testing program through the Revitalising Geographe Waterways initiative since 2016. A further round of soil testing will be offered this year and farmers are encouraged to contact Bree Brown at geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au or call 97810 111 to register.
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This project is being delivered through the Revitalising Geographe Waterways program, supported by Royalties for Regions to improve water quality, waterway health and management of Geographe waterways.
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L
ocal Bay friendly verge gardens
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Thinking of transforming your lawn verge?
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GeoCatch’s Bay OK project has created six demonstration garden verges within the City of Busselton so that residents can experience the values and features that native garden verges can bring to the neighbourhood.
As well as requiring minimal fertiliser and water, native garden verges support native fauna attracted by the healthy habitat right in front of your home.
Lawn verges require weeding, regular watering and top ups of fertiliser to keep them healthy and attractive. Replacing the lawn with a native garden will save you time and effort, and will help to protect our local waterways and Geographe bay by preventing fertiliser nutrients running off into stormwater drains.
Keen to get started? Both the City of Busselton and Shire of Capel have Nature Verge Guides to provide assistance in verge design for residents and detailing particular verge requirements. The City can also provide two street trees for your verge, free of charge.
View details of the Bay OK demonstration garden verges
HERE.
For details on these gardens and where to find them, go to ‘
In the Garden
’ at geocatch.asn.au/our-work/being-bay-ok/ This website page also has many useful resources to assist gardeners in the Geographe Catchment.
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The Bay OK project is part of Revitalising Geographe Waterways, supported by Royalties for Regions to improve water quality, waterway health and management of Geographe waterways.
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Facelift for the Vasse Diversion Drain
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The lower section of the Vasse Diversion Drain below Bussell Highway is due for a major facelift this year as part of the Vasse Diversion Drain Enhancement Project.
A concept design for the drain extending from
College Avenue roundabout to the ocean
has been created with the help of a community survey undertaken by GeoCatch.
Planned improvements include erosion and bank stabilisation works, revegetation with native species, new park benches and a viewing platform.
Stage 1 works have already started and will generally focus on the area north of the Bussell Highway Bridge to the footbridge near the ocean, improving visual amenity, habitat for native wildlife, bank stability and water quality.
Fencing will soon be erected to manage public access down the banks, where works are taking place.
The Stage 1 works are being led by GeoCatch, in partnership with the Water Corporation and the City of Busselton.
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The project is funded through the State government’s Revitalising Geographe Waterways Program which aims to improve water quality, waterway health and waterways management in the Geographe catchment.
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Improving effluent management gathers momentum
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Photo:
Ir
rigating effluent through a c
entre pivot at Rodwell's farm
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Dairy farmers will be quick to tell you that effluent management is one of the hardest things to get right on the farm. It’s a dirty, messy but essential part of daily life at the dairy.
Getting effluent management right is hugely beneficial for farmers, allowing them to recoup nutrients from the effluent for reuse on the paddock, whilst also keeping effluent out of waterways.
Recently, more than thirty dairy farmers attended a field day in Boyanup. Practical tips on storing, reusing and managing effluent were shared by visiting interstate and NZ specialists.
The solid show of farmers, dairy industry service providers and Shire planners who attended the DairyCare field day demonstrated that effluent management is gaining momentum, not just in the Geographe Catchment, but across the south west. DairyCare effluent project partners Western Dairy, who are developing effluent plans and coordinating system upgrades have also been finding that effluent management is on farmers’ minds.
‘Effluent management is a definitely something that WA dairy farmers are keen to get on top of on their farms,’ said Western Dairy effluent designer Dan Parnell. ‘Western Dairy have been undertaking one-on-one farm visits over the past few months, and effluent management is a hot topic.’
The field day included visits to two dairy effluent systems that utilise different methods of irrigating effluent back on the paddock; one farm utilising a two pond system and a big gun irrigator while the other is achieving success irrigating effluent through a centre pivot.
"It’s important for farmers to see some systems that are working well and to know who they can talk to about getting a system to work well on their farm, said DairyCare Project Coordinator Bree Brown. "We are working with a range of experienced service providers, both here in WA and from other states and NZ to help farmers access the right support to improve effluent management."
Effluent Plans are currently being finalised in the Geographe Catchment, before implementation plans are developed that detail the technical details of new equipment and any earthworks required. The first system upgrades are anticipated to start in towards the end of 2018.
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For more information on the DairyCare Effluent project being funded under the Revitalising Geographe Waterways and Regional Estuaries Initiative, contact Bree Brown at breanne.brown@dwer.wa.gov.au or phone 97810 111.
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Three years and counting!
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In its third consecutive year, the Western Ringtail Possum Tally is on again. Please get involved by registering to participate via the button above.
Your involvement in the Tally is of great value; building a reliable set of observational data will improve our knowledge about where Western Ringtail Possums are found and in what numbers.
The Geographe catchment, including urban areas of Busselton, Dunsborough and Capel contain prime habitat for the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum (thought to be less than 8000 remaining in the wild) so this is a great opportunity to volunteer and contribute to the conservation of this iconic species.
Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions will assist GeoCatch with the collation of information gained from the Tally.
The Western Ringtail Action Group (WRAG) plays a vital role in this initiative as educators, rescuers and ambassadors for Western Ringtail Possum on a daily basis. We're happy to have WRAG members involved in theTally again this year.
By participating in the 2018 possum Tally, you will go into a draw to win your very own possum box. All you have to do is return your completed
tally data sheet
by 31
st
May 2018.
Thanks to the Local Men’s Shed in Busselton for kindly constructing possum boxes, with support from GeoCatch, the City of Busselton and FAWNA.
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This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program supported by Royalties for Regions, and delivered by GeoCatch and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.
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GeoCatch are looking for new members
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A number of positions on the GeoCatch Board have become available in 2018 and community members are encouraged to nominate.
GeoCatch are a community based natural resource management organisation operating in partnership with local government, community, state government agencies, regional NRM and industry to cooperatively manage land and water issues through holistic catchment management.
Community board members play a critical link between GeoCatch and the community by bringing community issues to GeoCatch, and in turn disseminating natural resource management information from GeoCatch back to the community.
GeoCatch are committed to achieving a balanced and diverse board membership, and are encouraging applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, members of the local farming community and individuals with experience in water and/or land management.
Applications are open until Friday 4th May 2018. To access the information and application kit
HERE
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