Archive for November, 2014

David Rennie, volunteers and PHCC staff collected over 100kg of rubbish to pave the way for the arrival of the migratory shorebirds this year.

Over 100kgs of domestic rubbish – including the front half of a wooden boat – was removed from shorelines of Nairns and Coodanup last month during the inaugural David Rennie Clean Up Day.

The event was organised by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, David Rennie and his family, and numerous volunteers from around the district. Chair of the PHCC, Jan Star, likened the event to doing the housework before important guests arrive.

“It’s all about preparing our shores for the migratory birds about to descend from Siberia, Japan and China and making sure their temporary home is as comfortable and welcoming as possible. It was David Rennie himself who coined the phrase ‘pave the way’ while we were organising the project,” Jan Star said.

Jan Star extended special thanks to all the old and new volunteers who swelled the ranks for the debris collection to over 40 people, saying the day’s work was extremely significant.

“Many local people have been undertaking a number of activities to raise awareness of the need to protect our migratory birds. We were delighted when David Rennie spoke with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council wanting to keep up momentum and awareness of our incoming feathered visitors with a special busy bee,” she said.

“One of our smallest migratory birds, the Red-necked Stint weigh 30gms and will fit into the palm of your hand when it flies in from Siberia. When they leave, they weigh a healthy 40gms. The wetland shallows are the key browsing area for these birds and by far the most important thing is not to disturb them as you don’t see them until you are right on top of them. It’s so important that walkers keep their dogs leashed in this regard,” Jan Star said.

This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government, Lotterywest, the City of Mandurah and Tangaroa Blue.

Contact: Kim Wilson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, kim.wilson@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800

 Dr Carmen Lawrence, PHCC acting CEO Kim Wilson, PHCC Chair Jan Star, PHCC board member Paddi Creevey and the expert panel for the Wetlands and People Plan.

The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council convened a panel of experts (on 19th November 2014) in Mandurah to initiate the first Wetlands and People Plan in Western Australia. The plan is designed to promote communication, education, participation and awareness of the Peel-Yalgorup Wetland System.

The Council’s Chair, Jan Star, said the key aims were to promote wise use of the valuable natural resource by the many diverse groups who interact with the Wetlands.

“The goal is for every person, business or entity to become agents, advocates and ambassadors for the wise use of the Peel-Yalgorup Wetlands,” Jan Star said.

“We recognise many people who enjoy our Ramsar 482 Wetlands are already doing this, however the increasing population brings its own set of issues and unless we create a strategy now that will influence the influencers – for example the town planners, building designers, developers as well as all the diverse user groups including commercial fishers, tourists and families, this great wetland system will have ongoing health issues.”

“As one of our expert panelists noted, ecologically sustainable development and sustainable use are different and each requires unique strategies,” Jan Star said.

The PHCC’s expert panel brought together representatives from the fields of government, tourism, education, marketing, environment, planning and community. Dr Carmen Lawrence of the University of Western Australia said she believed a message about using the Wetlands wisely should engage people on a personal level.

“People can and often do take actions out of generosity of spirit and a desire to protect what gives them their sense of place. They will act if they understand they have a personal stake in the future of what they benefit from most – recreationally, emotionally and financially,” Dr Lawrence said.

Chair Jan Star said The Wetlands and People planning session had created valuable alliances and a knowledge base for the future development of the plan.

“The draft Wetlands and People Plan for the Ramsar 482 Site is expected to be delivered in February 2015,” she said.

ENDS

Contact: Kim Wilson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, kim.wilson@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800

Mark and Harry Nannup; Jo Garvey, Rivers 2 Ramsar Officer; Ben and Franklyn Nannup planning back to country strategy.

Members of the Winjan community enjoyed time spent planning skills-based training to help them working back on country as a major aspect of the multi-million dollar Rivers 2 Ramsar project currently being rolled out by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council.

The Australian Government has committed $3.6 million to protect and enhance biodiversity of the internationally significant, Ramsar listed Peel-Yalgorup system during a four year timeframe. In what is the largest biodiversity project currently funded in Australia, the Council is managing landscape scale restoration, community engagement and planning across six priority sites in the 11,940km Peel-Harvey catchment.

Peel-Harvey Catchment Council chair Jan Star said the project’s momentum was dramatic.

“Our Natural Resource Management Phase One plan is well underway after extensive community consultation. The entire strategy has been finely tailored, and to have achieved so much already is significant. In the past year, in addition to cultural consultation and facilitating skills based training for local Noongar such as seed collection, we have completed training and commenced on-ground works for weed management and revegetation in all the six catchment sites and released two river action plans for the Lower Murray River sites,” Jan said.

The PHCC and its project partners, Birdlife WA, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Murray and Waroona Shires, City of Mandurah, Landcare SJ and the Harvey River Restoration Task Force are undertaking a range of strategic actions to protect the environmental, cultural, ecological and economic values by connecting river corridors of the Harvey, Serpentine and Murray Rivers to improve resilience and ecosystem function.

Jan Star said the community was playing a leading role in what will become a legacy project.

“In-kind contributions, partners and stakeholders in delivery are also contributing their time, technical support, labour skills and expertise. This will be a legacy project which will be successful because of people’s desire to work together for a healthier environment.”

ENDS

Contact: [Jane O’Malley, Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800

Photo: Mark and Harry Nannup (Elder); Jo Garvey, Rivers 2 Ramsar Officer; Ben and Franklyn Nannup planning Back to Country R2R strategy at the Nannagup site, Black and Goegrup Lakes.