The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council have launched their “Bindjareb Boodja Landscapes – A Strategy for Natural Resource Management in the Peel-Harvey Region” to provide a framework and investment plan for the protection and restoration of the 1.12 million hectare Peel-Harvey Catchment.

The COVID friendly launch revealed the online Strategy which is now available to provide guidance for our broader community working in the natural environment.  It will guide decision making for the Catchment Council and the Region over the next decade, with initiatives designed to identify partnerships and attract funding for natural resource management projects.

“Through the Strategy we hope to guide and motivate communities, land managers, governments and their agencies, and businesses to achieve results in biodiversity, wetlands and waterways and effective natural resource management,” said Caroline Knight, Chair of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council.

Our inaugural Strategy was launched in May 2015 by the then Federal Minister for Environment Greg Hunt, and the late Don Randall (former member for Canning).  The COVID friendly launch of our 2nd Strategy was not quite so grand but the team are very happy with the Strategy to support the PHCC and its broader community.  The Strategy was developed via a technical review of the needs of the region, with community consultation to ensure that community priorities and aspirations were a high priority. 

“Science and knowledge is the basis of all we do and over the last five (5) years in particular the PHCC have been able to work with partners to undertake in depth consultation and knowledge finding processes, including working closely with our Noongar community, to ensure appropriate respect to Noongar culture, and aspirations of our Noongar community, including building capacity for working on country.” Said Caroline 

The science clearly shows that much needs to be done if we want to prevent another ecological collapse, particularly with the added challenges from the impacts of climate change.  We are already experiencing significantly lower rainfall, impacting our farmers and reducing flows in our rivers.  We can expect continued increase in fire events and our native flora and fauna are trying to adapt to changing seasons and conditions. 

Caroline said “It is a very important time for us to have a good look at what we need to do to retain our environment, it is the very basis of our existence and our precious waterways contribute billions to our economy and are the basis of why we choose to live, work and recreate in the Region. “

“We have added a lot more interactive resources into this Strategy, including links to species lists and Recovery Plans and Science advice for our threatened communities and species, educational resources, updated statistics and interactive mapping.  By having an online Strategy we will also be able to ensure it remains up to date with contemporary advice and actions” said Caroline.

The Strategy also outlines how the PHCC are delivering on National Priorities, with currently funded projects to protect and restore Ramsar wetlands, improve the trajectory of threatened species and communities (Numbats, Banksia Woodlands, Black Cockatoos) and improve soil, biodiversity and vegetation (Greening Farms).

The PHCC is a not-for-profit, community based Natural Resource Management organisation that promotes an integrated approach to catchment management and the way we protect and restore the environment within the Peel-Harvey catchment.  PHCC work across 1.2 million hectares of surface water catchment that flows into the internationally important, Ramsar listed Peel-Harvey Estuary.  PHCC has ~30 staff that work out of the head office in Mandurah and regional offices in Boddington and Waroona.  The operations team are supported by a dedicated, skills based Board of Management.

To view the Strategy go to https://peel-harvey.org.au/nrm-strategy-2/ or to keep across the PHCC’s many activities see www.peel.harvey.org.au 

The NRM Strategy is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

ENDS

Media Contact:  Melanie Durack, A/Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, admin@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