Projects

Resilient Farms, Nature & Communities

Creating resilience for farmers will enable them to reduce impacts of a drying climate, including loss of biodiversity, biosecurity threats, vegetation fragmentation and declining soil health. PHCC’s Resilient Farms, Nature and Communities project will enable farmers to directly address issues through enhancing their skills, capacity and supporting sustainable management of land resources specific to their needs as well as conserving and recovering biodiversity through on-ground activities.

Healing Waangaamap Bilya

PHCC will improve a section of the Serpentine River by creating refuge pools and riparian habitat to benefit the Carter’s Freshwater Mussel, Rakali, and improve connectivity with Threatened Ecological Communities including Banksia Woodlands and Clay Pans of the Swan Coastal Plain. These outcomes will be supported with pest management, weed control and expand an innovative water treatment trial to improve ecological health of significant floodplain wetlands.

Case Study 47: Conserving culture and nature, one seed at a time

It takes hundreds of thousands of seeds to revegetate a native Woodland, however, there is currently insufficient seed available on the market to meet the demand for restoration, particularly for Banksia Woodlands species. To address this key limitation, PHCC and the Winjan Bindjareb Boodja Rangers collect and process thousands of seeds each year from threatened Woodlands on the Swan Coastal Plain.

Future Ready Farming

In PHCC’s two largest farming areas, Hotham-Williams and Swan Coastal Plain, this project will focus on supporting farmers to reduce impacts of: • a drying climate • declining soil quality and function • biodiversity loss • declining on-farm waterstorage • biosecurity threats Healthy soil is central to delivering resilience to climate change, natural disasters, helping meet Australia’s emission reduction targets, promoting agriculture growth, food and water security and increasing biodiversity.

Numbat Neighbourhood – Supporting community to protect our endangered numbats

The Numbat Neighbourhood project will help to stabilise or increase the area of occupancy and improve resilience of the Dryandra Woodland National Park numbat population. We will work with private landholders through targeted restoration to improve habitat and enhance connectivity for numbats, woylies and chuditch.

Moordidjabiny – Protecting Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos for the future

This project will support farmers, private landholders and public land managers in the Peel-Harvey Catchment to manage and improve the habitat values of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo nesting and feeding sites. PHCC will work with land managers, Birdlife Australia (WA), First Nations Australians and community groups to improve the knowledge of known nesting sites and improve the long-term resilience of these habitats through a range of onground works. Community workshops and training events will be used to raise landholder awareness and encourage land manager participation.

A World for Woodlands

Supporting community to protect Banksia and Tuart Woodland Threatened Ecological Communities. This project will work with community, land managers and First Nations Australians to develop and implement actions to help meet Conservation Advice objectives.

Restoring Ramsar 482 Wetlands and Waterways

The project will improve the understanding, wise use and condition of >1000 ha of wetland habitat of the 26,530 ha Peel-Yalgorup 482 Ramsar site and lower reaches of the Bilya Maadjit (Murray River), Waangaamaap Bilya (Serpentine River) & Yoordinggaap Bilya (Harvey River).

Case Study 49: Banksia Dieback

Dieback is a plant disease affecting hundreds of thousands of hectares of natural bushland and forest in the south-west of Western Australia. It can have devastating impacts for Banksia Woodland Threatened Ecological Community, due the susceptibility of many native plant species including Banksia’s Hakea’s, Eucalypts and Grass-Trees. The World for Woodland Project has supported phosphite treatments at several remnant Banksia Woodland patches infected with dieback, including the Kingia Thompson Bushland (a privately owned 100-hectare patch of remnant native woodland located approximately 65 km south of Perth in the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale,

Defending Dryandra – Feral Hotspots Project

Feral cats have played a significant role in 27 of the 47 extinctions of Australian fauna. They are recognised as a potential threat to 74 mammals including numbats and woylies both of which can be found in Dryandra Woodland National Park (NP). Dryandra Woodland NP is 28,000ha and made up of 17 discrete blocks surrounded by farmland. For this reason landholders surrounding the Woodland play a significant role in protecting threatened fauna by conducting feral animal control to complement on-reserve control activities.

Hotham-Williams Rivers and Tributaries’ Natural Resource Management and Conservation Project

This project represents a renewed a long-term partnership between PHCC and Newmont and will enable the environmental efforts of the last five years to continue. Highlights of the partnership include the employment of a River Restoration Co-ordinator (Kristy Gregory), eight rehabilitation and restoration sites along the Hotham and Williams Rivers, engagement with the Wilman (Dryandra) People Corporation and a range of other community projects.

Case Study 51: Walking with Winjan and Healing Bilya

The Winjan Aboriginal Corporation and Peel-Harvey Catchment Council Inc. (PHCC) have been walking together for many years to care for Bindjareb Boodja and to develop and grow Winjan’s Bindjareb Boodja Rangers program. Providing training and employment opportunities for Bindjareb people to steward and protect their country is a key strategic direction of the Winjan Aboriginal Corporation. The Rangers program was developed to empower Bindjareb people to continue cultural responsibility to look after country, share cultural knowledge and provide training, up-skilling and employment opportunities. Through the “Healing Bilya-Restoring the Murray and Serpentine Rivers” project, PHCC has supported Noongar cultural knowledge sharing and the Rangers to participate in a range of on-ground restoration activities within the corridors of the Bilya Maadjit (Murray River) and Waangaamaap Bilya (Serpentine River). Training in weed control, revegetation, vegetation and fauna monitoring, maintenance and seed collection has been provided.

Case Study 50: Healing Bilya Restoring the Murray and Serpentine Rivers

The “Healing Bilya-Restoring the Murray and Serpentine Rivers” project is a continuation of the Alcoa Foundation’s investment for the overarching “Three Rivers, One Estuary Initiative” and the Peel-Harvey Catchment led project “Connecting Corridors and Communities-Restoring the Serpentine River”. The project area was expanded to include the Bilya Maadjit (Murray River) and was developed to improve the ecological health of the Murray and Serpentine Rivers and surrounds. Through collaboration with private landholders, Bindjareb Noongar traditional owners and the broader community, on-ground works identified through River Action Plans have been implemented to improve the ecological health and condition of the river corridors. Knowledge and capacity within the local community has also increased through a variety of engagement and training events and activities.

Healing Bilya-Restoring the Murray and Serpentine Rivers

The “Healing Bilya-Restoring the Murray and Serpentine Rivers” project aims to improve the ecological health of the Murray and Serpentine Rivers and surrounds, through collaboration with private landholders, Bindjareb Noongar traditional owners and the broader community, and increase knowledge and capacity building within the community.

Hotham-Williams Warlang Boodja Project

Warlang Boodja means ‘Healthy Country’ in the local Noongar language. Restoration of our rivers is intricately linked to their Noongar history because the cultural significance of natural assets in the Hotham-Williams Catchment is strongly linked to our rivers and creeks.

Case Study 42: Worms in Windrows

Runnymede farm, situated in the Uduc region near Harvey, is owned and operated by Blythe and her partner Gregg. They have a total of 500 acres of land and currently run 400 chickens, producing pastured eggs, and 400 head of grass-fed beef. Their farm is an ex-dairy property, with soils ranging from straight clay to heavy sand that have had high inputs of NPK in the past. Blythe and Gregg wanted to focus on the health of the whole farming system and regenerative farming guru, Nicole Masters, inspired them to look at practices that will reduce fertiliser inputs, improve soil health, and also improve plant diversity.

Saltbush establishment on marginal land within the Hotham Williams catchment

Saltbush provides an economic and sustainable forage crop option for a range of soil types, environments, and animal species across the greater South West Wheatbelt. There are numerous species and varieties of Saltbush available, with a new variety of Old Man Saltbush, AnamekaTM, now gaining wide interest among farmers.

Rivers 2 Ramsar Connecting River Corridors for Landscape Resilience

The Australian Government has committed ~$3.6 million dollars to protect and enhance biodiversity in the Peel-Harvey Catchment. The ‘Rivers 2 Ramsar’ project will be delivered by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and its partners from July 2013 to June 2017. Landscape scale restoration, community engagement and planning will be undertaken in six priority sites across the 11,940km2 catchment.

Protecting WA Black Cockatoos

This project will support private landholders in the Peel-Harvey Catchment to manage and improve the habitat values of black cockatoo nesting and feeding sites, including the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt and Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain Threatened Ecological Communities. The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) will work with landholders, Birdlife Australia (WA), other NRM regions and community groups to improve the knowledge of known nesting sites, and improve the long-term resilience of these habitats through a range of on-ground works. Community workshops and training events will be used to raise landholder awareness and encourage farmer participation. The results from surveys and monitoring will feed into Birdlife Australia databases to improve overall knowledge of black cockatoo habitats and populations.

Connecting Corridors and Communities – Developing a River Action Plan: Case Study 38

The Serpentine River is a catchment of diverse landuses including urban development, horticulture, grazing, poultry farms, feedlots and hobby farms. Waters from the largely unmodified forested catchment of the upper Serpentine have been and dammed diverted for potable water supplies. The upper and middle reaches of the River have been highly modified to remediate the risk of flooding.

Greening the Farm after a Fire

Wildfires can have a devastating impact on farms, farming communities and natural resources. The Waroona-Yarloop Fire of 2016 was no exception and burnt 33,000 ha of farmlands in the Peel-Harvey Catchment, causing many landholders to rethink current farming and vegetation management practices.

Connecting Corridors and Communities: Restoring the Serpentine River

Through a collaborative approach to improve the health, biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services of the Serpentine River and the estuary, the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) will work with local community, focusing on private landholders and the Noongar community, to improve the health of bushland and riparian zones as well as connectivity and function of these zones to improve water quality, habitat, breeding and food resources for native species.

Hotham-Williams Rivers and Tributaries’ Natural Resource Management and Conservation Project

To assist the PHCC with the leveraging and commitment of the financial resources that will enable the effective planning, management, delivery and administration of the Project whilst delivering specific NRM objectives.

Lake Clifton Catchment Conservation Stewardship Project

Lake Clifton is a critical part of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar Site, being one of the few places on earth where thrombolites, or living rock-like structures, are found. The Lake’s Catchment includes parts of the Yalgorup National Park and over 300 rural residential properties. Land use and vegetation management in the Catchment has a great bearing on the health of the lake and the thrombolites. Major threats to the lake and thrombolites are increasing nutrient levels, increasing salinity, decreasing freshwater inflows from groundwater, and weed infestations.

Greening the Peel-Harvey Landscape for Farming, Fodder and Fauna

This project works with farmers to protect, enhance and plant native vegetation on farms across the Peel-Harvey Region in two farming landscapes and three bioregions.

A world for woodlands

Reducing threats to Banksia Woodland Threatened Ecological Communities through land stewardship. This 5 year project will work with community and land managers to develop guiding actions to help meet Conservation Advice objectives.

Wetlands and People

Wetlands and People, a community restoring the Ecological Character of the Peel-Yalgorup System’s wetlands, will improve over 1,000 ha of Ramsar habitat. On-ground priority actions will address key threats, and associated direct and indirect stresses placed on the Wetlands, including the Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) of thrombolites at Lake Clifton and priority waterbird habitats.

Numbat Neighbourhood

Supporting people to protect the vulnerable Noombat wioo (Numbat, Myrmecobius fasciatus) in the wild. Noombat wioo (Numbat: Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a small unique marsupial found only in Australia. It is culturally significant to Noongar people and the emblem of WA.

Effective Collaboration and Catchment Management

Newmont and the PHCC have a longstanding partnership that is supporting more effective catchment management.

WA Feral Cat Symposium 2018

Hear from some of the nation’s leading researchers, conservation groups, and government on the innovative future of feral cat control and local successes in tackling a major cause of decline for many of Australia’s endangered species.

Managing bushland on school sites

Bushland on school sites can provide a special learning environment for students, and at the same time, a management challenge for school communities. In North Dandalup, 80 km from Perth, the local primary school has one such bushland area: a 1.78 hectare nationally significance site containing rare ecosystems. Management of the bushland has been led by the school community and the local landcare centre for over 10 years,

Guiding horticultural investors and growers in the Peel-Harvey

Through its work on the Peel Sustainable Agriculture Technical Working Group, PHCC has assisted in the development of a suite of information tools for those planning to establish or expand horticultural operations in the Peel-Harvey Coastal Catchment. The Peel-Harvey Coastal Catchment grows more than $350 million of agricultural produce across 142,790 hectares, with production expected to increase significantly over the next two decades.

Making agriculture sustainable in a sensitive coastal catchment

Nutrient management is key to ensuring agriculture is sustainable in the Peel-Harvey Coastal Catchment’s poor soils. Since 2014, the PHCC and Shire of Murray have led an initiative to support compliance with state government policy on protection of the Peel-Harvey Estuary and nutrient management standards. The PHCC/Shire initiative has enabled the Peel Sustainable Agriculture Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop new information resources and policy guidance for local governments and proponents of horticultural developments.

Lake McLarty Nature Reserve Action Plan 2017 – 2027

Lake McLarty is an internationally important wetland located in south-west Australia and an integral part of the Peel‑Yalgorup wetland system, Ramsar 482. Over recent years the lake’s condition has deteriorated due to reduced rainfall, lowered water levels and changes in vegetation and soils. Various groups assist the state government to manage the Lake, including the Friends of Lake McLarty. To maximise the effort of all groups working at the Lake, a joint Action Plan was developed to focus expertise and energy and save this beautiful wetland for future generations.

Helping local communities recover after fire

The Waroona NRM and Fire Recovery Support Project is a two-year initiative to assist and support those within the Shires of Waroona and Harvey impacted by the massive wildfire of 2016. The fire had a significant impact on a number of local communities and burnt over 72,000 ha of native forest, bushland and farmland, including 426 farms covering 33,000 ha. The Project has been designed and delivered by the PHCC to support the community to restore farmlands and natural areas damaged

Farmers for Fauna

Feral cats endanger at least 142 native Australian species, more than one third of our threatened mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds. Foxes have had a similarly devastating impact nationwide. In the Farmers for Fauna Project, the PHCC assists the 49 farmers around one of south west Australia’s most important public conservation areas, Dryandra Woodlands, to increase the effectiveness of their efforts to control feral cats and foxes and protect the threatened Numbat and

ARC Linkage Project

This project is a collaborative scientific venture involving more than twenty researchers and land managers from four universities, two State Government departments, two local governments and PHCC. It investigates the links between catchment management and downstream effects and uses this information to model and predict changes in estuary health in response to changes in catchment land uses and estuary management.

Wetland Yarns

In the Wetland Yarns Project the PHCC brings together Noongar People, scientists and artists to share their knowledge and stories about wetlands with school students. The Project was developed and trialled in 2017 by the PHCC and included excursions and school-based activities for over fifty (50) Year Three students from local school, Greenfields Primary. Students visited Lakes Clifton and Mealup and listened to different stories and perspectives from local Noongar Elders and specialist staff from the

Parkfield Lake Nutrient Management Basin

The Parkfield Lake remodeled an unsightly, degraded artificial lake that suffered from flooding and algal blooms into an attractive nutrient stripping wetland with surrounding parklands removing an estimated 75kg of phosphorus per year. Working with the City of Kwinana, the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council ensured the project reduced nutrient pollution to local waterways while also reducing local flooding risk, creating new recreational areas and habitat for wildlife. The site had historically been used for marketing gardening and was transitioning to residential use.

Slowing the flow: helping our farmers, waterways and wetlands

In winter, a large network of drains help farmers in the Mayfield Catchment battle waterlogged conditions. But in spring, as the land dries out, those drains funnel away much-needed water as well as valuable nutrients. This nutrient-rich water flows into downstream environments, polluting rivers, wetlands and ultimately the Peel-Harvey Estuary.

Restoration of WA’s mighty Murray River

Most river reaches in the Peel-Harvey Catchment are in a poor condition after more than a century of uncontrolled stock access, riverbank erosion and weed invasion. With this in mind as part of its Rivers to Ramsar Project, the PHCC embarked on a new initiative to address the management needs of a large section of the longest river in the catchment, the Murray. Commencing with a major review of the decade-old Murray River Action Plan, PHCC staff built an understanding of the ecological condition of the lower and middle

Reinvigorating Landcare in the Hotham-Williams

In 2013 representatives of the Hotham-Williams community approached the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council seeking assistance to reinvigorate landcare in their catchment. Public investment in landcare in the catchment had been limited since 2008 after many years of strong support and on-ground projects.

Accredited training supports Working On Country

The PHCC, in partnership with the local Noongar community and Chemsafe, has established and delivered a nationally accredited training course on weed control and safe chemical handling practices. The course, including the new Herbicide Chemical Safety Training Manual, places an emphasis on practical and theoretical knowledge and job-readiness.

Connecting local communities with Cockatoos

A four-year partnership project between Birdlife WA and the PHCC has increased community awareness of south-west Australia’s three iconic, endemic species of Black Cockatoo and the necessity for landscape scale restoration. Under the partnership, 20 Cockatoo Workshops were organised by the PHCC and 400 people participated in the Great Cocky Count across the Catchment.

Building Community Capacity for Sustainable Ag Practices – Healthy Waterways

Mayfield catchment landholders have a long history of Landcare and provided critical information for the Subcatchment Implementation Plan (SIP) for Water Quality Improvement. This Healthy Waterways project, conducted in the Mayfield catchment, helped ‘close the loop’ in regard to the landholders’ contribution to the SIP. Workshops, field days and site visits exposed landholders to land management practices aimed at increasing farm productivity whilst reducing nutrient export into waterways. The project’s evaluation identified that landholders’ priority is clearly farm productivity. There’s strong support for Whole Farm Nutrient Mapping especially as the program offers a comprehensive service and provides independent advice that is easy to understand and implement. The ongoing challenge is to work with landholders on research and actions that drive productivity with the side effect of improved catchment water quality

Lake Mealup Recovery Project

Lying to the east of the Harvey estuary, Lake Mealup, straddles public and private lands. Collaboratively managed for its conservation values, and culturally significant to Noongars, it forms an integral part of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar wetlands as an internationally important freshwater habitat for migratory waterbirds. Declining water quality (pH2.6) and loss of the open water body was restored by the return of natural water regimes through installation of an adjustable height water diversion weir, control of the invasive Typha orientalis and revegetation of riparian and terrestrial zones.

Alcoa Pinjarra Wetland Project

Initiated by Greening Australia WA and facilitated by PHCC’s Rivercare Program, this water quality improvement project implemented water sensitive urban design principles, to retrofit the 3 drains that received 50% of the town of Pinjarra’s stormwater and restore the wetland through which they flow. Restoration activities improved habitat for aquatic and terrestrial fauna, while reducing nutrient and sediment export to the Murray River just 500m downstream. The rehabilitated wetland, now officially named “Moorni Kep Park” also improves the water quality of the receiving waterbody, the Ramsar-listed Peel-Harvey Estuary in Western Australia.

McLarty’s River Restoration Project

Bordering the Murray River and Marrinup Brook, within the catchment of the Ramsar-listed Peel-Harvey Estuary, Gordon McLarty’s property in Meelon, south east of Pinjarra, Western Australia, was the site of extensive waterway, riparian and terrestrial restoration delivered by PHCC. In an area of regionally significant vegetation, the project demonstrated the effectiveness of strong leadership and collaboration between stakeholders to achieve on-ground success. Funding contributions provided a significant amount of resources to complete a large scale project addressing priority targets.

K4	IDENTIFY AND CAPITALISE ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
The Peel-Harvey has competitive advantages that should enable market opportunities to be capitalized on, including its close proximity to an international airport, emerging support facilities, comparatively affordable land as metropolitan areas become more urbanized, and its natural capital including a very productive area of the Wheatbelt. Capitalising on these opportunities will assist in employment and the social issues being experienced as a result of high unemployment. The Peel-Harvey is well placed to capitalize on market opportunities and land managers need support to identify and match production to markets, promoting the Region’s clean, green production by implementing sustainable practices that protect and restore the Region’s natural capital.
K4.1	Undertake Analysis of competitive markets for sustainable production
K4.1.1	Support grower groups and similar to identify competitive advantages and provide support to match land managers to markets
K4.1.2	Prepare and communicate an analysis of strengths, assets and potential new markets
K4.1.3	Identify and facilitate network opportunities to improve local knowledge and opportunities
K4.1.4	Identify constraints and areas for development and advocate to remove identified barriers
K4.2	Provide community access to, and awareness of new technologies and information
K4.2.1	Share new technologies and information, including local successes and peer to peer learning
K4.2.2	Support next generation farming, including education and career development

K3	LAND MANAGERS TO USE BEST KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
Land managers use a wealth of knowledge and experience to inform the way they manage their paddock, patch or park. They may need support to access new information that has become available through research and field trials. Strategies to achieve this goal aim at information sharing between landholders, through field days, extension support, and field-based research trials.
K3.1	Relevant information/knowledge is provided to land managers
K3.1.1	Develop targeted land management extension programs responding to community needs
K3.1.2	Support and assist land managers to access relevant and contemporary information
K3.1.3	Develop, promote and support implementation of best practice management for NRM
K3.2	Use science to inform land manager programs
K3.2.1	Implement targeted extension programs to support NRM for productive environments
K3.2.2	Support relevant research trials and promote findings to land managers
K3.2.3	Demonstrate economics benefits of productivity improvements, to influence greater uptake

K2	INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
NRM practices must continue to evolve and adapt to the best available information. To enable this adaptive management and continuous improvement to occur, information must be collected for monitoring and evaluation purposes, science should be used to address knowledge gaps and innovation must be encouraged. The strategies to address this goal cover each of these aspects as well as incorporating the knowledge of Aboriginal people to improve the effectiveness of NRM activities.
K2.1	Maintain effective information collection, storage and analysis processes
K2.1.1	Establish and maintain an effective information collection and storage process
K2.2	Use scientific methods to develop, inform and improve natural resource management programs
K2.2.1	Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NRM activities
K2.2.2	Help educate and support land holders to improve decision making
K2.3	Incorporate Aboriginal knowledge to improve natural resource management
K2.3.1	Collaboratively document and use Aboriginal knowledge/practice in NRM programs
K2.4	Encourage Innovation in natural resource management programs
K2.4.1	Identify, assess and facilitate sharing of new techniques, particularly for agriculture and restoration
K2.4.2	Communicate and support innovation in NRM and agricultural programs and Practices

K1	INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING FOR BETTER NRM
Decision makers in government and the private sector need access to the best available research findings and information to ensure that land is managed wisely. New development and land uses should not create new NRM challenges for the future but provide for new opportunities for good stewards of the environment. A number of landmark strategies and activities will achieve this goal including the preparation of regular State of the Region reports, implementation of the Science Strategy for the Estuary (and pending Strategy for the Catchment) and establishing the first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute.
K1.1	Science is undertaken to address current and emerging environmental, economic and production issues
K1.1.1	Establish and implement a Science Program for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.2	Prepare and implement contemporary Science Strategy’s for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.3	Collaborate with stakeholders to target and enable priority research
K1.2	Communicate State of the Catchment and relevant science to decision makers/community
K1.2.1	Prepare and communicate a State of the Catchment Report Card/s (every 2 years)
K1.2.2	Communicate science and knowledge relevant to health of the catchment
K1.3	Establish a Peel Waterways Institute / Waterways Centre of Excellence
K1.3.1	Establish first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute to support collaborative research
K1.3.2	Advocate for a National Centre for Waterways Excellence in the Peel-Harvey

K1	INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING FOR BETTER NRM
Decision makers in government and the private sector need access to the best available research findings and information to ensure that land is managed wisely. New development and land uses should not create new NRM challenges for the future but provide for new opportunities for good stewards of the environment. A number of landmark strategies and activities will achieve this goal including the preparation of regular State of the Region reports, implementation of the Science Strategy for the Estuary (and pending Strategy for the Catchment) and establishing the first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute.
K1.1	Science is undertaken to address current and emerging environmental, economic and production issues
K1.1.1	Establish and implement a Science Program for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.2	Prepare and implement contemporary Science Strategy’s for the Peel-Harvey
K1.1.3	Collaborate with stakeholders to target and enable priority research
K1.2	Communicate State of the Catchment and relevant science to decision makers/community
K1.2.1	Prepare and communicate a State of the Catchment Report Card/s (every 2 years)
K1.2.2	Communicate science and knowledge relevant to health of the catchment
K1.3	Establish a Peel Waterways Institute / Waterways Centre of Excellence
K1.3.1	Establish first stages of a Peel Waterways Institute to support collaborative research
K1.3.2	Advocate for a National Centre for Waterways Excellence in the Peel-Harvey
K2	INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
NRM practices must continue to evolve and adapt to the best available information. To enable this adaptive management and continuous improvement to occur, information must be collected for monitoring and evaluation purposes, science should be used to address knowledge gaps and innovation must be encouraged. The strategies to address this goal cover each of these aspects as well as incorporating the knowledge of Aboriginal people to improve the effectiveness of NRM activities.
K2.1	Maintain effective information collection, storage and analysis processes
K2.1.1	Establish and maintain an effective information collection and storage process
K2.2	Use scientific methods to develop, inform and improve natural resource management programs
K2.2.1	Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NRM activities
K2.2.2	Help educate and support land holders to improve decision making
K2.3	Incorporate Aboriginal knowledge to improve natural resource management
K2.3.1	Collaboratively document and use Aboriginal knowledge/practice in NRM programs
K2.4	Encourage Innovation in natural resource management programs
K2.4.1	Identify, assess and facilitate sharing of new techniques, particularly for agriculture and restoration
K2.4.2	Communicate and support innovation in NRM and agricultural programs and Practices
K3	LAND MANAGERS TO USE BEST KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY
Land managers use a wealth of knowledge and experience to inform the way they manage their paddock, patch or park. They may need support to access new information that has become available through research and field trials. Strategies to achieve this goal aim at information sharing between landholders, through field days, extension support, and field-based research trials.
K3.1	Relevant information/knowledge is provided to land managers
K3.1.1	Develop targeted land management extension programs responding to community needs
K3.1.2	Support and assist land managers to access relevant and contemporary information
K3.1.3	Develop, promote and support implementation of best practice management for NRM
K3.2	Use science to inform land manager programs
K3.2.1	Implement targeted extension programs to support NRM for productive environments
K3.2.2	Support relevant research trials and promote findings to land managers
K3.2.3	Demonstrate economics benefits of productivity improvements, to influence greater uptake
K4	IDENTIFY AND CAPITALISE ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
The Peel-Harvey has competitive advantages that should enable market opportunities to be capitalized on, including its close proximity to an international airport, emerging support facilities, comparatively affordable land as metropolitan areas become more urbanized, and its natural capital including a very productive area of the Wheatbelt. Capitalising on these opportunities will assist in employment and the social issues being experienced as a result of high unemployment. The Peel-Harvey is well placed to capitalize on market opportunities and land managers need support to identify and match production to markets, promoting the Region’s clean, green production by implementing sustainable practices that protect and restore the Region’s natural capital.
K4.1	Undertake Analysis of competitive markets for sustainable production
K4.1.1	Support grower groups and similar to identify competitive advantages and provide support to match land managers to markets
K4.1.2	Prepare and communicate an analysis of strengths, assets and potential new markets
K4.1.3	Identify and facilitate network opportunities to improve local knowledge and opportunities
K4.1.4	Identify constraints and areas for development and advocate to remove identified barriers
K4.2	Provide community access to, and awareness of new technologies and information
K4.2.1	Share new technologies and information, including local successes and peer to peer learning
K4.2.2	Support next generation farming, including education and career development

B5	WATER RESOURCES ARE MANAGED AND USED WISELY
Water resources are essential to life. They shape our wetlands, waterways and biodiversity and influence the type and location of agricultural production. Water resources include both surface waters and groundwater, and the aquifer systems that link them both. Most of the forested areas of the Forest and Scarp Subsystem are proclaimed water supply catchments (Land Assessment, 2005). Water resources are managed under a regime which recognises both public and private use values as well as environmental water requirements. The strategies to achieve this goal support water allocation planning and other activities to ensure the wise use of resources for protection of ecosystems in the long term. These strategies complement the Department of Water’s role in water allocation planning.
B5.1	Support water allocation planning and management for wise use
B5.1.1	Undertake a water audit across the catchment to assist in water management in the long term
B5.1.2	Encourage adequate environment water allocations in and for all priority systems
B5.1.3	Support measuring and assessment of water supply systems, for environment and agriculture
B5.1.4	Support the development of water storage facilities for fire management
B5.2	Support land managers to manage water resources—for multiple benefits
B5.2.1	Support resource and land managers to assess and implement water capture, harvesting and storage facilities
B5.2.2	Support resource users to implement water efficiencies
B5.2.3	Support adaptive management systems to respond to reduced rainfall

B4	BIODIVERSITY IS CONSERVED
Biodiversity is the term used to describe the natural diversity of life. This diversity exists at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels. The Region is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot because of its mega-diverse and unique biodiversity and the level of threat this biodiversity is under. Biodiversity is most effectively and efficiently conserved by protecting natural areas, these being areas of bushland, forest, woodland, waterway, wetland, dune, rock outcrop, foreshore and any other area in a near-nature state. The Region is home to many globally significant natural areas, notable examples being Dryandra Woodland, our Northern Jarrah forest, and the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System. The strategies to achieve this goal are focused on protecting priority natural areas, managing and reducing threats to biodiversity assets, and restoring ecological linkages between significant natural areas. Assisting local governments to implement local biodiversity strategies will be one of a number of ways of achieving this goal.
B4.1	Protect priority terrestrial and aquatic natural areas
B4.1.1	Influence land-use planning to afford protection to priority natural areas
B4.1.2	Undertake assessments of biodiversity status
B4.1.3	Assist land managers to protect priority terrestrial natural areas
B4.1.4	Assist land managers to protect priority aquatic natural areas
B4.1.5	Assist land managers to improve biodiversity through regenerative agricultural practices
B4.1.6	Incorporate knowledge of impacts of changing weather patterns into biodiversity programs
B4.2	Manage and reduce threats
B4.2.1	Identify, monitor and communicate threats and threatening processes
B4.2.2	Implement and support threat reduction activities in priority areas, including managing feral animals, weeds and disease, fire, extreme events and drought
B4.2.3	Implement and support management and response planning for extreme natural events
B4.3	Restore ecological linkages
B4.3.1	Facilitate and/or support collaborative landscape scale restoration for multiple benefits
B4.3.2	Encourage restoration processes being identified and embedded into the land-use planning system

B3	COASTAL AND NEARSHORE AREAS AND PROCESSES ARE RESILIENT AND VALUED
Coastal foreshores, beaches and near-shore areas have significant social, ecological and economic values. They support commercial and recreational fisheries, protect coastal residential areas and provide a diversity of habitat for flora and fauna. A key aspect of coastal management in the Region is the network of community groups, local governments and state agencies that manage coastal foreshores and maintain public access to beaches and nearshore waterways. Strategies to achieve this goal are aimed at supporting the groups and organisations who are undertaking coastal area and near-shore management.
B3.1	Protect foreshores for their ecological and recreational values
B3.1.1	Encourage/support foreshore management that enables natural process and resilience to a changing climate
B3.1.2	Support the community to value and manage coastal areas
B3.1.3	Support recreational uses consistent with environmental protection
B3.2	Protect near-shore habitats for productivity and biodiversity
B3.2.1	Support actions/activities to protect near-shore habitats for ecological, recreational and commercial productivity

B2	SOILS ARE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE
Soils and landforms are the fundamental resources which shape wetlands and waterways, biodiversity and land use, especially agriculture. Agricultural production in the Catchment is worth $469.974 million per annum (source 2021 REMPLAN) and relies directly on the health and conservation of soil resources. Soils should be managed as a living resource with consideration to soil acidity, dryland salinity, prevention of erosion and discharge of sediment. Biosecurity is an issue of significant concern to the community and is included under this goal given its impact on soils, productivity and biodiversity. Issues such as water repellence and compaction of soils may also be having an impact on farm productivity levels, although the impact on productivity is not clearly understood. Healthy soils will reduce the loss of topsoil to waterways and the impact of sediment on rivers and the Estuary. Strategies under this goal aim to assist farmers and land managers to better understand their local soils, make informed decisions on soil management practices, and support biosecurity programs. Farmers own and manage over 50% of the Region, making their increased participation in NRM essential.
B2.1	Understand soil characteristics and risks
B2.1.1	Support land managers to undertake and understand risk/soil mapping at a local level
B2.1.2	Support and share research and information that improves our collective understanding of soil characteristics and their productive potential
B2.1.3	Support land managers to understand the consequences over use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
B2.2	Support land managers to match land uses and management practices to soil type and land capability
B2.2.1	Support adaptive land management practices in vulnerable areas
B2.2.2	Maintain priority areas for agricultural production (while protecting valuable environmental assets)
B2.3	Support land managers to implement sound soil management practices and use suitable land productively
B2.3.1	Encourage and support farming methods to enhance soil and soil resilience
B2.3.2	Encourage use of soil amendments for multiple benefits
B2.3.3	Support ‘whole of farm’ planning to better meet social, economic and environmental objectives
B2.4	Support biosecurity practices
B2.4.1	Support, preparation and implementation of biosecurity program/s for multiple benefits
B2.4.2	Raise awareness and educate community on local, priority biosecurity issues and provide support for management
B2.5	Influence legislation and policy
B2.1.1	Influence and support decision makers in developing policy and legislation for the protection of priority agricultural land
B2.1.2	Influence and support decision makers in developing policy and legislation for the protection of priority environmental assets
B2.1.3	Advocate for and support streamlining of planning regulation and licensing for sustainable agricultural practices

B1	WETLANDS AND WATERWAYS ARE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE
Wetlands and waterways have a special place, with all major townsites and communities living in proximity to a local waterway or wetland. Major waterway assets include the Hotham, Williams, Murray, Serpentine, North and South Dandalup and Harvey rivers. Major wetland assets include the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System and the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System. Key threats include poorly planned development, changing hydroperiods, reduced flow, eutrophication, ASS and MBO. Strategies to achieve this goal are designed to support coordinated management of the Estuary and Ramsar System, implement management actions to improve waterway and wetland condition, and protect groundwater quality and flows into wetlands and waterways.
B1.1	Support the establishment and operations of coordinated governance frameworks for the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System
B1.1.1	Work with key stakeholders to establish and operate a coordinated framework for the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System
B1.1.2	Continue to work with key stakeholders to operate a coordinated framework for the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar System, including but not limited to the Ramsar and subsidiary TAG’s
B1.2	Improve the condition of wetlands and watercourses
B1.2.1	Prepare and implement action plans to restore the natural function of wetlands and watercourses
B1.2.2	Prepare and implement action plans to manage drains for multiple benefits, including water availability to assist with impacts of reduced rainfall and drying climate
B1.2.3	Manage issues such as erosion, sediment, nutrients and monosulphidic black ooze to improve/protect condition of wetlands and watercourses
B1.3	Protect wetlands and watercourses
B1.3.1	Influence land-use planning to afford protection to wetland and watercourse values
B1.3.2	Encourage implementation of management plans and ongoing maintenance in accordance with planning conditions and/or best management practice
B1.4	Protect groundwater quality and quantity as hydrological inputs to wetlands and watercourses
B1.4.1	Ensure environmental water provisions are adequate for maintenance or improvement of ecosystem health
B1.4.2	Ensure groundwater monitoring is sufficient to measure and assess environmental water provision adequacy and to influence regulatory change, where required

P1	EFFECTIVE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
This goal encompasses the full spectrum of strategies to achieve effective NRM in the Region. This includes operating an effective regional NRM organisation, maintaining and implementing an NRM Strategy, coordinating activities between organisations and across the Catchment, and monitoring and evaluating the condition of natural resources.
P1.1	Operate an effective regional body
P1.1.1	Establish a responsive business model that builds resilience for a sustainable future
P1.1.2	Develop and implement workforce plan/s to address the objectives of the NRM Strategy
P1.1.3	Ensure on-going skills development of the Board and staff
P1.1.4	Prepare, maintain and review an NRM Strategy for the Peel-Harvey
P1.1.5	Facilitate prioritisation, investment and capacity to implement the NRM Strategy for the Peel-Harvey
P1.1.6	Share knowledge with and between key stakeholders
P1.2	Communicate, educate, raise awareness and encourage participation in NRM
P1.2.1	Develop and implement communication, engagement and participation plans, embracing new technologies and responding to the diversity of community and sectors across the catchment
P1.2.2	Promote, celebrate and encourage participation in NRM
P2	RESOURCE MANAGERS ARE SUPPORTED TO IMPROVE NATURAL ASSETS AND PRODUCTIVITY
Direct and practical support is required by land managers to effectively implement sound land management practices. Experience has shown this is most effectively delivered through landcare centres and professional NRM staff, with collaborative support across all sectors.
P2.1	Establish appropriate support structures across the Region
P2.1.1	Support and extend existing NRM groups, providers, stakeholders and educators
P2.1.2	Support and facilitate establishment of additional community support structures (e.g. grower and community groups)
P2.1.3	Support land managers through targeted skills and training programs
P2.1.4	Support NRM education facilities and school development programs
P2.2	Provide mechanisms for adaptive management
P2.2.1	Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NRM activities
P2.2.2	Help educate and support land holders to improve decision making
P2.2.3	Support sustainable and productive business development
P2.2.4	Facilitate resource sharing across networks
P2.2.5	Promote and educate new technology and processes
P3	CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUES ARE EMBEDDED ACROSS NRM ACTIVITIES
Protection of our Aboriginal and European Heritage sites is crucial. Aboriginal people have both a cultural and intellectual connection to places which enhance NRM and enrich our community. Most major rivers and wetlands in the Region are of cultural significance to Aboriginal people, and are often also of social and recreational significance to the wider community. Various strategies to increase communication with, and involvement of, Aboriginal people in NRM are included under this goal.
P3.1	Foster communication and leadership with and between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal resource managers
P3.1.1	Implement protocols for communicating with Aboriginal groups and communities
P3.1.2	Promote information on traditional ecological values and land management practices
P3.1.3	Support partnerships with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and groups to plan and actively participate in NRM
P3.2	Develop joint management opportunities for Aboriginal involvement
P3.2.1	Continue to work with Aboriginal people to determine their ongoing aspirations for involvement in NRM
P3.2.2	Explore and facilitate collaborative opportunities for training, employment and procurement across NRM activities
P3.3	Recognise and acknowledge European heritage and social links to natural resources
P3.3.1	Cultivate ties to sense of place
P4	OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS, VALUES AND RESPECTS THE REGION’S NATURAL RESOURCES
The natural environment maintains a sense of place for people and there is a strong desire to strengthen the connection between people and their local environment. Strategies under this goal aim to increase people’s connection with the natural environment, support sustainable recreational use of natural areas and support a skilled landcare and volunteer base.
P4.1	Increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of natural assets
P4.1.1	Support local, national and international communities to design and implement communication, participation and marketing plans highlighting the Regions natural assets
P4.1.2	Develop, implement and support education and participation programs
P4.2	Engage community in activities that raise the awareness of a connection with natural assets and values
P4.2.1	Promote volunteer opportunities
P4.3	Sustainable recreational use of natural resources
P4.3.1	Promote awareness of nature based recreational opportunities provided by a healthy environment
P4.3.3	Raise appreciation of need to protect the natural environment to enable recreational activities
P4.4	Foster a philanthropic culture in support on the natural environment
P4.4.1	Support mechanisms to attract philanthropic contributions towards NRM

Member Login