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Archive for December, 2015

Battle of Pinjarra Massacre Site Work Progresses

PHCC project officer Johanne Garvey, Jan Strijdom, Tom Lerner (Shire of Murray), Jaidon Kearing (Murray Districts Aboriginal Association) and friends cleared tonnes of woody weeds at the Pinjarra massacre site.

PHCC project officer Johanne Garvey, Jan Strijdom, Tom Lerner (Shire of Murray), Jaidon Kearing (Murray Districts Aboriginal Association) and friends cleared tonnes of woody weeds at the Battle of Pinjarra Massacre Site.

17 December 2015…A co-operative busy bee was held this week at the Battle of Pinjarra Massacre Site. The busy bee was co-ordinated by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council with help from the Shire of Murray and the Murray Districts Aboriginal Association and successfully removed tonnes of woody weeds from the culturally significant site.

The site is on the banks of the Murray River and is one of the most significant historical and cultural sites in the Peel-Harvey, but currently is very poor condition as it is dominated by various invasive weed species. The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) is managing the site’s enhancement project under their Rivers 2 Ramsar project which aims to restore and protect native vegetation on identified river corridors.

Andy Gulliver, chairman of the PHCC, said the busy bee marked the commencement of an overarching management plan for the site.

“The work achieved this week has been extremely important. The river banks are clogged with invasive weeds – Blackberry, Honey Suckle, Wild Fig, Fumeria, Bridal Creeper and Kikuyu. Several species including large fig trees were targeted using a cut and paint method and the debris was dragged up the steep bank to be disposed of by the Shire of Murray crew,” said Andy Gulliver.

“Follow up work will include ongoing management of the Blackberry, which is a highly invasive species, and once this is under control we will revegetate the site with native species. I commend the efforts of our PHCC Rivers 2 Ramsar project officer Johanne Garvey for her hard work to get this project off the ground and to build such positive relationships to work together on the site,” he said.

Karrie-Anne Kearing, spokesperson for the Murray Districts Aboriginal Association, said the eventual revegetation of the site using locally grown natives will further the local Noongar Bindjareb group’s vision.

“We envisage an interpretive sanctuary where the community can gather and reflect in a natural environment more like the original landscape of this site,” said Karrie-Anne Kearing.

Shire of Murray Chief Executive Officer Dean Unsworth said the Shire was pleased to work collaboratively with the Peel Harvey Catchment Council and Murray Districts Aboriginal Association to preserve the site.

“The removal of heavy woody weeds has made a substantial improvement to the site which is environmentally, culturally and historically significant to Pinjarra and Western Australia,” said Dean Unsworth.

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 …

Water Module Masters Visit Mandurah

Masters students from around the globe visited PHCC to study integrated water management.

Masters students from around the globe visited PHCC to study integrated water management.

10 December 2015…Water management students from as far afield as Nepal, India, Mexico, Chile, Peru, India, the U.S.A. and around Australia have undertaken a comprehensive study tour of the Peel-Harvey region assisted by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC).

The students are completing their masters in Integrated Water Management via the International Water Centre in Brisbane, and will take the learnings from their field trips back home as they work up their theses.

Professor Mark Rivers of the Institute of Agriculture UWA co-ordinated the field trip with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council’s senior project officer Kim Wilson.

“The field trip was about showcasing the Peel-Harvey catchment and in particular the work the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council have done towards community engagement and social capital in addressing the issues affecting the catchment,” said Mark Rivers.

At the PHCC, students viewed the Lake Mealup case study which demonstrates how effective community engagement and partnerships resulted in the successful recovery of Lake Mealup, which is a part of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar system. The Lake Mealup Recovery Program, a multi-organisational partnership, was a runner-up in this year’s International River Foundation’s $200,000 Australian Riverprize.

Jose Astete, a masters student and agricultural engineer from Lima, Peru, said it was fascinating to learn how the local issues on integrated water management had been addressed.

“It has been very interesting to learn of the natural resource management techniques that Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and their project partners have used to restore the wetlands like diverting water into the lake, controlling the typha weed, improving the PH balance and restoring the riparian links,” said Jose Astete.

The International Water Centre is a collaboration between University of Queensland University of WA, Monash and Griffith, and the integrated water management module focuses on connecting water and agricultural landscapes.

During the study tour of the Peel Harvey, the students were also addressed by representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Harvey Water and the WA College of Agriculture, Harvey.

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 …

Birders Study Fairy Terns

Members of the recent Fairy Tern Workshops on a field trip to the Peel Inlet with PHCC Project Manager Thelma Crook and Dr Nic Dunlop.

Members of the recent Fairy Tern Workshops on a field trip to the Peel Inlet.

10 December 2015…Birders and decision makers from Perth metro, Bunbury and around the Peel-Yalgorup region gathered in Mandurah recently for a workshop and study tour of one of the region’s most significant resident shorebirds. In 2011, the Australian Fairy Tern was classified as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The species is heavily impacted by human activities on the coast and, according to workshop co-ordinator Dr Nic Dunlop of the Conservation Council of WA, without intervention the Fairy Tern will eventually cease to be a breeding species in the Peel.

“As a potential flagship species, the Fairy Tern is an indicator of how well we manage the coast. Land development, rising sea levels, human disturbance, introduced predators and water quality all affect these birds. We simply need to get ahead of the game and find a way of accommodating them before it is too late,” said Dr Dunlop.
A number of workshops and study trips are being held on the South West coast this summer in places where Fairy Terns disperse to breed in W.A.’s summer months.

“The South West Fairy Tern Project workshops will develop localised strategies for significant nesting sites and establish a network of trained conservation volunteers to monitor the birds. Citizen science involving local communities is a very important aspect of the project. By understanding them, we can help them,” said Dr Dunlop.

The Fairy Tern Conservation Project is supported by State NRM. The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) facilitated the sub-regional workshop held in early December in Mandurah.

PHCC project manager Thelma Crook said there were indications that disturbance and coastal development have forced the breeding colonies onto low-lying islands and beaches where they are especially vulnerable.

“The Fairy Tern is a small bird weighing about 50gms with a distinctive black cap, yellow-bill and white forked tail. They often nest on shorelines, island beaches, sand spits, and dredge spoil – places where human impacts and predation by foxes and cats occurs. People need to be bird-aware and keep their dogs on a leash in these areas,” said Thelma Crook.

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

If you are keen to be involved in the project or if you have sightings of Fairy Tern, please contact the South West Fairy Tern Project Coordinator fairytern@ccwa.org.au.
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 …

Long Time Board Member Honoured

Outgoing Peel-Harvey Catchment Council member Maxine Whitely (centre) with Jane O'Malley, PHCC CEO; Brad Hardie, Landowner; Mel Durack, NRM Officer and Darralyn Ebsary, PHCC Member.

Outgoing Peel-Harvey Catchment Council member Maxine Whitely (centre) with Jane O’Malley, PHCC CEO; Brad Hardie, Landowner; Mel Durack, NRM Officer and Darralyn Ebsary, PHCC Member.

9 December 2015…Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) Chairman Andy Gulliver has praised the achievements of outgoing Board member Maxine Whitely, a Landcare pioneer for over two decades and Wandering landowner who has been an active community participant and serving member of the PHCC for over ten years.

“Maxine has been a long-time advocate for Landcare in Hotham Williams. Her on-going commitment to attracting funding for projects in the Upper Catchment and her hands-on approach to restoring and protecting the area’s natural assets is highly valued. She is a true champion for the environment and has been an important member of the PHCC Board,” said Andy Gulliver.

The former Narrogin nurse turned her nurturing hand to the land when she moved to her husband’s 1,400 hectare Wandering property as a young bride. The family farm embraces 423 hectares of virgin bush rich with native flora and fauna species, and holds a special place in her heart.

“I love the property and our native bushland and am passionate about ensuring our natural assets are cared for and protected. My introduction to Landcare all those years ago was the Greening Challenge with the Upper Great Southern Oil Mallee Growers Association. The tree-planting program was the first of many fulfilling projects that has seen me work alongside wonderful people also dedicated to Landcare, ” Maxine said.

“It has been wonderful working with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and participating in natural resource management across the catchment. The opportunity to be the voice for the Upper Catchment in my role as a PHCC Community Board member has been a rewarding and memorable experience,” she said.

Maxine’s Landcare highlights have included interstate tours on country with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, and the highly successful “Come to the country and have a dirty weekend” campaign, which attracted city folk to the country to help plant trees.

Maxine chuckled as she recalled the ‘dirty weekend’. “The campaign lived up to its name, attracting families and 4WD groups to come out for the weekend to help with revegetation programs. By the time they packed up to leave they were covered in dirt, but uplifted by the experience. We all had a great time and it was an example of how many hands and lots of laughter make light work,” she said.

Following on from her long-standing Board experiences, Maxine continues to be heavily involved in Landcare programs and helps other landowners and community groups in many ways including with funding applications.

She is currently working with the Lions Dryandra Woodland Village to develop bushland corridors for native animals to move safely across the landscape. Maxine is also assisting landholders to secure funds for creek line fencing to reduce stock access, and to help control feral pigs to reduce their destructive behaviours.

Andy Gulliver praised her achievements both on the Board and as committed community member, noting the enormous impact one person can make to Landcare.

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 …

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