Archive for November, 2015

PHCC’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Luke Rogers on a fence line near Cuballing.

24 November 2015…Landowners within the Hotham Williams catchment have been successful in securing nearly $200,000 in natural resource management (NRM) funding through the second round of Rivers 2 Ramsar Project grants administered by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC).

Eighteen landowners throughout the Hotham Williams catchment will receive funding for fencing, revegetation and weed control to improve wildlife corridors and increase linkages and stepping stones in the landscape for iconic species such as WA’s Black Forest Cockatoos.

The funded projects will enable 833 hectares of native remnant vegetation to be protected, 57 kilometres of fencing and 86,000 native seedlings to be planted.

PHCC project manager Thelma Crook said the applications went through an independent assessment panel before being endorsed by the PHCC Project Steering Committee.

“Small, medium and large landowners throughout the catchment have been successful in the second round of our funding grants. We are thrilled there are so many landowners who want to undertake NRM projects on their properties. They are contributing a substantial amount of their own funding and time in completing these projects. It is a reflection of the reinvigoration of Landcare in the upper catchment. We congratulate all the successful landholders and look forward to working with them in the coming year,” said Thelma Crook.

Dee McBride, a small landholder in Boddington, was one of the successful applicants. She plans to use the opportunity for fencing, planting and weed control on her property, and believes the grant process is a benefit to the entire community. “This is the first time I’ve completed a grant application for anything like this and the process was quite easy, particularly with assistance from PHCC officer Mel Durack. There’s a creek along the middle of our property and I’m keen to improve it for wildlife habitat and to halt the degradation. I hope more people take on the grants and make their in-kind contribution as it is evident these projects will benefit the entire community,” she said.

Over the past 18 months an investment of over $500,000 has been made by the PHCC, LGAs and the broader community into NRM outcomes within the Hotham Williams catchment. This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government.

ENDS

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

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PHCC Founding chair Jan Star (right) with Landcare friends at Dirk Brook (circa 2000)

19 November 2015…Landcare, in one form or another, is as old as the soil beneath us. The modern Landcare movement had its genesis in initiatives to improve agricultural productivity through sustainable land management. It has since grown to a broader focus on sustainable management of all of Australia’s natural resource assets and now encompasses individuals and groups across the whole landscape from coastal to urban and remote areas of Australia.

Fauna Survey at Serpentine Sports Reserve – 1998

The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council’s Regional Landcare Facilitator, Luke Rogers, says Landcare is “a community driven approach to restoring, managing and caring for Australia’s natural environment and its agricultural productivity, which generally go hand in hand. Landcare attracts and embraces both individuals and groups to assist in projects relevant to the Landcare issues and community priorities.”

“Modern Landcare began as an agreement between the Victorian Farmers Federation (Heather Mitchell) and the then Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands (Joan Kirner) in 1985. The two organizations recognised that caring for the land benefited the natural environment as well as improved farming productivity and viability. For example, the removal of damaging weeds, managing soil health and nutrient application or revegetating to minimise erosion and improve water quality. They also recognised the secret to the success of Landcare was to ensure it was community owned and driven,” said Luke Rogers.

Since then, Landcare groups have formed all around Australia with billions of dollars invested into Landcare to raise awareness, influence farming and land management practices and deliver environmental outcomes across a number of different landscapes.

Luke Rogers said the Landcare concept has also been adopted in over 20 countries.

Kangaroo Creek Landcare Group Planting Day at Goodchild’s property – 2001

A Landcare group usually starts when community members with common objectives come together over their shared community priorities or concerns for management of natural assets. For example, erosion of sand dunes due to mismanaged beach access or weeds affecting agricultural productivity. Groups normally set their own agenda and manage the number and types of sites or projects and level of work required. Groups have the option of applying for funding from a number of sources to support their work including local, state, and federal government and other sources including private industry or other Landcare and NRM organisations (including the Peel Harvey Catchment Council).

The Peel Harvey Catchment area currently has a number of community driven Landcare groups across the region, with different focusses and objectives but with a common goal. The Peel Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) provides support to these Landcare groups through assistance in funding, in-kind support, promotion, and partnering to deliver projects on the ground.

Rupert Richardson and family on new rock riffle on Serpentine River circa 2000

To learn more about Landcare groups in your area, or to find out what you can do to support and/or get involved in Landcare, please contact Luke Rogers, Regional Landcare Facilitator, on (08) 6369 8800, or luke.rogers@peel-harvey.org.au.

This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

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

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Environmental advisor to the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Heather Adamson, with the portable PA purchased through an Alcoa Community Grant

18 November 2015…The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) has welcomed an Alcoa Community Partnership Grant that enabled the purchase of new equipment for field communication and training. Andy Gulliver, chair of PHCC, said the funds were used to purchase two portable public address systems, four high definition cameras, and three knapsack spray units.

“The community will benefit from equipment purchased through the Alcoa grant. Having the portable PAs will make it much easier for participants to hear our trainers when we are in the field. The spray units have allowed us to increase our training and mentoring with the local Noongar community which is aimed at boosting their employment options in natural resource management. The cameras are being used to share images captured at our project sites, and the information assists us to improve or change management practices,” he said.

Alcoa Pinjarra Refinery Community Relations Offices Fiona Bell said Pinjarra Refinery is proud to partner with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, as it has done for many years.

“Like many of our wonderful partners, the PHCC are committed to making a difference which the whole community benefits from. Every year we partner with approximately 75 different groups who focus on enriching the Peel community through a range of environment, art, youth and health initiatives.” …ENDS

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

Click here to view or print pdf …

Colin Elton and volunteers from Friends of Rivers Peel

28 October 2015… The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) is pleased to announce their inaugural round of Community Environment Grants under the National Landcare Programme. Community groups and individuals can apply for up to $50,000 for on-ground works.

Projects must focus on on-ground activities that maintain or enhance threatened species habitat, threatened ecological communities, migratory species, regionally significant species habitat (or communities) or the ecological character of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar site.

Total funds of $150,000 are available across two levels of grants:

1. Up to $10,000 for projects to be completed by 30 September 2016.

2. $10,001-$50,000 for 1-3 year projects to be completed by 30 March 2018.

PHCC’s Community Environment Grants are designed to support local communities to undertake projects that protect and enhance natural assets in accordance with the region’s NRM strategy – Bindjareb Boodja Landscapes 2025 – and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program objectives.

Federal Member for Canning, Mr Andrew Hastie, encouraged community organisations to apply for funding.

“The Federal Government’s Community Environmental Grants initiative is a great opportunity for local organisations to put their hand up for financial help to make their environmental project a reality. In the Peel-Harvey area we have some incredible natural assets that need protecting and funding through this program can make a real difference,” Mr Hastie said.

Federal Member for O’Connor, Mr Rick Wilson, urged applicants to target priorities.

“By getting involved, community organisations, schools and individuals working in natural resource management can help ensure the grant programme is used to its maximum benefit, targeting local and regional priorities,” Mr Wilson said.

Expressions of interest for the larger grants close 10:00am, Thursday 12 November. All applications are due by 12 noon, Monday 30 November. Guidelines are available on Peel-Harvey Catchment Council’s website www.peel-harvey.org.au

This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

ENDS

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

Black Cockatoos – Image by Keith Lightbody

4 November 2015…Learning to love and understand Western Australia’s threatened Black-Cockatoos is the key to enhancing their chances of survival as urban development and changes to rural land use increasingly reduce their breeding and feeding habitats.

In the last 50 years, it is estimated the population of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos has declined by 50%, and their range has been reduced by up to one-third. Populations of Baudin’s and Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo are thought to be similarly reduced according to Jan Star, Deputy Chair of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC).

“The 2014 Great Cocky Count report by Birdlife Australia and Western Australia’s Department of Parks and Wildlife estimated the current rate of decline in the cockatoos’ population on the Perth-Peel coastal plain was 15 per cent per year,” said Jan Star.

“Like many unique species, a serious decline in breeding numbers will result in extinction if a range of management and conservation measures are not put in place and supported by communities,” she said.

With population predicted to climb to 3.5 million people by 2050 across Perth-Peel, the PHCC and their project partners, Birdlife WA, have aligned with the Australian Government to raise awareness of the plight of Black-Cockatoos.

The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council’s series of Black-Cockatoo workshops, designed to engage communities and activate a desire to protect the birds, has attracted over 100 local residents from across the catchment.

Many participants also joined in Birdlife WA’s annual Great Cocky Count. Sue Mather, Vice-Chair of Birdlife WA, said the cockatoo workshops were a timely way to raise awareness of the pertinent issues.

“In the Peel-Harvey catchment, Carnaby’s breed in areas such as Wandering, Boddington and Williams and fly to feed and roost on the coastal plain. The number of people participating in the cockatoo workshops testifies to the commitment and proactive approach taken by the PHCC and BirdLife WA in the protection of our native species,” said Sue Mather.

Jan Star said the workshops were designed to raise awareness of critical feeding and breeding habitat and highlight the importance of landscape linkages and wildlife corridors.

“South West Australia’s endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo species is a focus of our Rivers 2 Ramsar project that is restoring ecological corridors across the Peel-Harvey catchment to re-establish habitats for native fauna. Carnaby’s depend on wildlife corridors as they fly from the west to the east to feed and breed,” she said.

The PHCC is managing the delivery of the over-arching Rivers 2 Ramsar project with no less than seven key partners, numerous stakeholders and community members. Carnaby’s Cockatoos were chosen for the project as they traverse the entire landscape of the 11,940km Peel-Harvey catchment.

North Dandalup resident Fleur Ambrosa said she attended the workshops as she was considering planting for cockatoos on her property and wanted to learn more about them first.

“I love hearing the cockies as they fly over our house. Attending the workshop made me more aware of everything we need to do to protect our native animals. After participating in the Great Cocky Count, I was struck by the serenity of the bush, and the fact that the birds have no voice in our political arena. They are on their own, endangered, and will become extinct if we don’t do something now to help them,” she said.

Pinjarra resident Allan Mackenzie said the workshop made him want to get more involved.
“It was a great talk – very informative. It has changed the way I view and value Black-Cockatoos and their habitats. I definitely would like to get more involved as a result,” he said.

PHCC and BirdLife WA, who delivered the workshops with Landcare partners Harvey River Restoration Taskforce, Landcare SJ, City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray and the Hotham Williams community, are planning a further 10 workshops over the next two years. This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government.

ENDS

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

Click here to view or print pdf …