Archive for March, 2016
Pinjarra Clean Up Success

Clean Up participants worked together on three sites around Pinjarra to remove rubbish.
24 March 2016…Over nine cubic metres of rubbish has been removed from waterways and significant sites around Pinjarra by 50 community volunteers, as part of the month long Clean Up Peel Waterways initiative.
The Clean Up participants from Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Shire of Murray, Murray Districts Aboriginal Association, local volunteers and Fairbridge Village worked together across three sites: Cantwell Park, Battle of Pinjarra/Massacre Site and Morni Kep Park.
Clean Up Peel Waterways, a joint community Clean Up Australia project for the month of March involves eighteen community groups and supporters coming together to improve the health of the Peel waterways through separate events. The project was initiated by Friends of Rivers Peel and is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) through funding from the Australian Government.
PHCC chairman Andy Gulliver said the annual Pinjarra clean up day was the best yet.
“Our thanks go out to the 50 community volunteers who came together to pick up, pull out, and pack up the rubbish collected. This year, we even found a discarded wheelchair.”
“Discarding rubbish into our rivers and wetlands has a significant impact on the overall health of our waterways, including the Ramsar listed Peel Inlet and Harvey River. Clean up days like this raise awareness of these issues and hopefully discourage people from disposing of rubbish in our fragile environment,” he said.
The Shire of Murray and the Peel Harvey Catchment Council work with a number of stakeholders including community groups and volunteers throughout the year to improve the health of the Murray River.
Shire of Murray President Cr. Maree Reid said the annual Clean Up Australia Day initiative forms a vital part of ongoing efforts and attracts an increasing amount of community support.
“Several tonnes of waste were collected throughout the Shire. There were six other community Clean Ups which took place in Coolup, North Dandalup, Dwellingup, South Yunderup, Barragup and Nambeelup, including the Friends of Rivers Peel event organised by Colin Elton which removed two tonnes of rubbish from the Murray River,” she said.
“The Shire recognises and supports the community’s desire to preserve our enviable natural environment and thanks the community members and groups who selflessly volunteered their time to assist with 2016 Clean Up efforts.”
ENDS…
To read the PDF, click here
Media Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800
Support Continues After the Fires

Presenters Jeff Pow and Darren Doherty with Peel-Harvey Catchment Council regional landcare facilitator Luke Rogers at the After the Fire Workshop held in Waroona.
24 March 2016… Participants at a recent two day After the Fire Workshop held in Waroona say the innovative support program offered to local landowners has been invaluable.
The free workshop, hosted by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) in partnership with the ‘Making More From Sheep’ program from Australian Wool Innovation and Meat & Livestock Australia, was designed to provide knowledge, tools and techniques for landscape scale property planning.
The 16 landholders were helped to create individual regeneration plans of their land and farming enterprises. Presenters included Jeff Pow, who rebuilt his South West WA farming enterprise after it was destroyed by a 2013 fire, and Darren Doherty who has world-wide experience in the profitable and regenerative retrofit of broad acre landscapes and is acclaimed as a pioneer in this important field. The project was supported by the PHCC through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
Peel-Harvey Catchment Council chairman Andy Gulliver said the PHCC had received very positive feedback from the primary producers and landholders who attended.
“After the workshop, people told us they felt their hope returning because they could see a clear path ahead to re-plan their property,” he said. “The participants all commented on the camaraderie they experienced by coming together and how positive they felt about the future as a direct result.”
Jeff Pow said his own experience had taught him guidance was essential after a trauma experience. “People just can’t think clearly and yet that’s exactly what’s needed. Support and guidance in the aftermath when people simply can’t fend for themselves is essential. I found as my farm recovered, I recovered: we came out of an adverse event into a positive space,” he said.
Darren Doherty said it was important to focus on planning and future positives. “It’s about developing a community of practice to leverage knowledge and share successes. The workshop gave people ideas to ‘reboot’ i.e. to change how they create their water supply, where they place their fences. It enables them to consider a new start with fresh eyes and to find the advantages in the situation such as the capital flowing in from insurance,” he said.
Participants said they attended the workshop for many reasons. Some took the opportunity to identify how to manage the situation for future occurrences. Christine King said she was keen to implement different approaches to address vulnerabilities exposed by the bush fires.
“The workshop showed us options to rebuild our farm that we hadn’t thought of. It was particularly good to hear examples from other people’s experiences,” she said.
Mick and Helen Muir said they approached the workshop as a remaking of their farm.
“For us it has been about seeing our property through different eyes and capitalising on what was there before. Joining in with others has been very stimulating and has given us a lot of hope to start afresh – we’ve come out of the two day workshop feeling very positive,” said Helen Muir.
A follow-up workshop will be taking place in November, and all participants at the initial workshop have the option of further one-on-one support from Darren Doherty.
“Darren is available to every participant for consultation on follow-up on their personal property fire recovery program. As well, participants can follow up learnings with each other in their new virtual ‘community of practice’ on social media and via email,” said Andy Gulliver.
ENDS…
To read the PDF, click here
Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800
Dine On Healthy Crabs

Stage Door Waterfront Restaurant chef Ellen Rayner with Mandurah Blue Swimmer Crab linguine pictured with Mayor Marina Vergone holding the Home River Ocean fertiliser guides.
14 March 2016 … A campaign focusing on grass roots lawn care to keep the region’s famous Blue Swimmer Crabs healthy is gaining momentum.
The Peel community will have the chance to get on board with the ‘Save the Crabs, Then Eat Them’ campaign in a partnership between the South West Catchments Council (SWCC) and the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC). The campaign, which kicks off during Crab Fest, encourages residents to think about how and when they fertilise their lawns – for the sake of the waterways and crabs.
Mayor Vergone said making a small change in lawn care behaviour can be one of the most effective actions residents can do to aid fish stocks and protect our waterways.
“Fertiliser leaches into our waterways when it rains, causing algal blooms that remove oxygen. If there’s rain forecast, hold off the fertiliser and go fishing instead! Waiting until Autumn and Spring to fertilise lawns keeps the fertiliser on the lawn where it does its job, it also promotes grass root growth instead of blade growth for healthier lawns,” she said.
The Home River Ocean campaign has produced free fertiliser guides on how to fertilise at the right time, using the right amount. These are available BCF Mandurah and Ray’s Outdoors as well as at Department of Fisheries Mandurah and the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council.
The project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. PHCC’s chairman Andy Gulliver said reducing the impact on water quality caused by excessive nutrients entering the Peel-Harvey’s waterways, estuaries and ocean is a simple message for all residents who loved their lawns and our crabs.
“The fertiliser guide details how to use the right amount and carefully measure dosages so it stays on your lawn and plants where it’s needed and doesn’t run off into our precious waterways,” he said.
Stage Door Waterfront Restaurant chef Ellen Rayner said holding off when there is rain around and going easy when applying fertiliser would ensure there were more dishes like Blue Swimmer Crab Linguine on the menu for everyone to enjoy.
“Excess fertiliser from lawns and gardens washes into drains and through our sandy soils to our precious waterways where those tasty Blue Swimmer Crabs live, so choose to have garlic butter with your crab, not fertiliser!” she said.
ENDS…
To read the PDF, click here:
Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800
Free Black Cockatoo Walk & Talk

Baudin Cockatoo image by Keith Lightbody.
8 March 2016… Community members keen to protect and create environments conducive to Black Cockatoos are invited to attend a free workshop on 16 March 2016. The workshop is being delivered by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) in partnership with City of Mandurah and Birdlife WA.
Participants are invited to bring a chair and a pair of binoculars along to Marlee Reserve, Parklands on Wednesday 16 March from 4.00pm – 6.30pm. There will be a Walk n Talk followed by a light supper.
PHCC’s Rivers 2 Ramsar project manager Thelma Crook said the elements of the workshop linked to the project objectives of connecting river corridors to build landscape resilience.
“We will focus on the importance of bushland, corridors and linkages; the significance of urban habitats including your backyard and local reserves; and also touch on the impacts of climate change on the iconic Black Cockatoo,” she said.
Workshop participants will gain the skills to identify and record Black Cockatoo numbers in this year’s annual Great Cocky Count on 3rd April 2016.
Birdlife WA cockatoo co-ordinator Adam Peck said the workshops will highlight how community members can manage bushland and enhance biodiversity to create wildlife corridors in the wider landscape.
“The training workshops will address actions identified in the Cockatoo Recovery Plan by offering members of the community the chance to make an informed contribution to identifying and managing threats to these birds and monitoring their population and distribution,” he said.
W.A’.s endemic Black Cockatoos – Carnaby’s Cockatoo, Baudin’s Cockatoo and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo – all live and rely on breeding sites, food and shelter across the whole Peel-Harvey Catchment. All three are listed as threatened species under state and federal legislation.
This project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government and City of Mandurah. To register by 9th March call 63698800 or email admin@peel-harvey.org.au.
ENDS…
Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800
To download a pdf, click here:
Free Black Cockatoo Workshop

Redtail Cockatoo image by Keith Lightbody
8 March 2016… Culture, community and cockatoos are the subjects of a free Black Cockatoo training workshop being delivered by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) in partnership with the Shire of Murray and Birdlife WA.
The workshop will be held at Bindjareb Park on Sunday 20th March from 2.30-5.30pm, and will cover identification, habitat needs and food resources. The PHCC’s Rivers 2 Ramsar project officer Jo Garvey said the program focused on enhancing the environment for Black Cockatoos.
“We are emphasising the importance of protecting and enhancing existing native vegetation and biodiversity to create wildlife corridors in the wider landscape, with a focus on the threatened Black Cockatoos,” said Jo.
The event includes a Walk ‘n’ Talk with a representative from Murray Districts Aboriginal Association (MDAA), Karak (Red-tailed Black Cockatoo) Dreamtime storytelling by Karrie-Anne Kearing and the chance to share some bush tucker prepared by the MDAA.
Workshop participants will have the opportunity to see some installed cockatubes (artificial cockatoo nests) and will gain skills to identify and record Black Cockatoo numbers. They are then encouraged to join in this year’s annual Great Cocky Count on 3rd April 2016.
Birdlife WA cockatoo co-ordinator Adam Peck said the workshops will highlight how community members can manage bushland and enhance biodiversity to increase food, habitat and breeding sites.
“The training workshops will address actions identified in the Cockatoo Recovery Plan by offering members of the community the chance to make an informed contribution to identifying and managing threats to these birds and monitoring their population and distribution,” he said.
W.A’.s endemic Black Cockatoos – Carnaby’s Cockatoo, Baudin’s Cockatoo and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo – all live and rely on breeding sites, food and shelter across the whole Peel-Harvey Catchment. All three are listed as threatened species under state and federal legislation.
The project is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government. To register by 16th March call 63698800 or email admin@peel-harvey.org.au.
ENDS…
Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800
To download a pdf click here.
Join In Clean Up Peel Waterways

Dudley Dolphin is the mascot of the 2016 Clean Up Peel Waterways
2 March 2016… Nearly 90% of the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary shoreline will be cleaned up during March by the Clean Up Peel Waterways initiative, a joint community project which involves 18 community groups and supporters coming together to improve the health of the Ramsar-listed Peel Yalgorup system.
Eighteen separate Clean Up events are being facilitated through Friends of Rivers, Peel supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council with funding from the Australian Government. People are encouraged to join the initiative by registering for a Clean Up event.
Friends of Rivers, Peel Co-ordinator Barry Small said the 2016 program is the best yet and was designed specifically to offer engagement at all levels of the community.
“While we appreciate the efforts of those people in our community who regularly pick up after others to keep our waterways litter free, it is very pleasing to note this year we have families, friends, schools, sporting clubs and community groups all uniting to join this inaugural month long event, ” said Barry Small.
“There are so many ways people can get involved in the 2016 program. Multiple events are open for registration this year which will see clean ups occur across the inlet and estuary shorelines, including the Murray River from above the weir at Pinjarra to the Delta Islands and the Serpentine River from Goegrup Lake to the Peel Inlet. It is a fantastic result from a community that cares about its environment, and we encourage people to join an event by logging their details online,” he said.
Waterways mascot Dudley Dolphin will be making guest appearances at events courtesy of the Mandurah Environment and Heritage Group.
“Dudley Dolphin will be appearing at the Riverview Boat Ramp this Sunday 6th March 8-11.30 am and at Samphire Cove on Sunday 27 March 9-11.30am. Dolphins, shorebirds and other estuarine species cannot clean up our waterways, but we can!’ said Barry Small. For details on events and how to register visit www.peel-harvey.org.au/events
ENDS…
Media Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800


