Minister for Science, Hon Stephen Dawson MLC launched the Peel Harvey Catchment Council’s (PHCC) Science Strategy and Tiny Lab at a ceremony at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on 23 April.

Community, government and industry came together to celebrate the launch of the Strategy and research infrastructure which includes the Tiny Lab, a Mobile Lab, two river health trailers and a community engagement trailer. 

Chair of PHCC, Paddi Creevey OAM said “What a major, key event to launch both the Science Strategy and our Gabi Bidi “Water Pathways” Program.  This is so important to our community and the whole catchment. As a science based organisation with a 1.12 million hectare water catchment to protect and restore, we need to work in collaboration with others.  The Strategy, with the research infrastructure, will inspire priority science for our internationally significant Mandurah estuary and the rivers that flow into it and support our aim of “Working Together on Water Science”.

Bindjareb Elder, George Walley provided a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony.  Local school kids and their dedicated teachers spent time talking with the Minister, proud of their involvement in science and excited about meeting the Minister. 

Ramsar Ambassador and previous Chief Scientist for WA, Professor Lyn Beazley, AO gave an inspiring speech about the importance of collaborative science, and enabling and inspiring future generations.

Local Members Lisa Munday, MLA (Member for Dawesville) and Rhys Williams, MLA (Member for Mandurah) spoke about the importance of science and how this program links so well with the new Gabi Bidi School Program, funded by the State Government, which is currently in the design phase and hoped to commence later in 2026.  Director General of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Alistair Jones also spoke about the collaboration with the Department and the commitment to an ongoing partnership for the restoration of our waterways.

The star of the infrastructure is the Tiny Lab, available to researchers undertaking priority research that will assist and/or inform management of our waterways. The Lab is a fully off-grid mobile facility that can be transported almost anywhere to provide a base for scientists, researchers, technicians and field staff to continue to study and monitor the condition of the Peel-Harvey waterways.  It includes facilities for overnight accommodation as well as areas for sample processing and refrigeration. PHCC will use it for its  own field work such as water sampling, vegetation survey, and fauna counts but will encourage it to be used by university research staff and students and not for profit groups. The Tiny Lab is ideal for researchers who need intense periods of field work, cutting out the risk, time and expense of travelling back and forth to remote sites.

Through our Science Strategy, authored by PHCC’s Senior Scientist, Danielle Eyre, we have identified priority research and we will continue our partnerships with science and education communities to support and enable this research.

The Science Strategy sets out our vision for science that is relevant to our boodja (our place) and the issues that we face here. The Science Strategy will drive action for resilient ecosystems, empowered communities and culturally respectful environmental stewardship across the catchment. Senior Scientist Danielle Eyre said “It will allow us to continue in our work to inspire and initiate investment in research to identify problems and solutions, and to implement those solutions at scale to protect and restore our wetland system of international importance.”

We thank the Cook Labor Government for their ongoing investment in science in our region, to underpin a sustainable and prosperous community.  To see our Science Strategy or more about the Tiny Lab, see our website.

The PHCC is one of 55 Natural Resource Management regional bodies across Australia.  For 25 years, PHCC has been a community association bringing people together to work for a better environment and healthy and productive agricultural systems. PHCC is in the process of changing its name to “5 Rivers NRM”.

ENDS

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

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present