Welcome to our first edition for 2021!
We have been busy planning for the year ahead and are looking forward to delivering some amazing events in the next few months. Keep an eye out for our Catio Tour, Ringtail Tally and Container Planting workshop, in the refurbished Kent Street Laneway!
And a reminder that we'd love to hear from you. Our team and board members are always available to listen to the community. If you have any ideas, concerns or comments about the Catchment please get in touch.
- The GeoCatch Team
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Superheroes enlisted to protect the Bay!
The Garden Guardians of the Bay have arrived to show the way towards beautiful gardens that help protect Geographe Bay.
Our fun new marketing campaign, which promotes gardening actions to reduce nutrients running off into the Bay, has been launched across the Geographe Bay Catchment.
GeoCatch board member, Robin Belford, says that urban gardens have an important role to play.
“The campaign is a call to action for all gardeners to champion the right way to garden,” he said.
“We want all gardeners to become ‘Garden Guardians of the Bay’ by growing native plants, adding clay to sandy soils, applying soil wetter and using mulch.
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Soft touch funding possum conservation
Proceeds from the sale of western ringtail possum soft toys are being used to fund conservation efforts for this critically endangered species.
The regional partnership between the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association and the Western Ringtail Action Group (WRAG) saw the soft toys available for sale at the Busselton and Margaret River Visitor Centres.
GeoCatch Chair, Felicity Bradshaw, is pleased with how the community has supported the initiative.
“Community members and visitors purchased 107 possum toys from October to December 2020,” she said.
“This support has raised over $1000, which will be invested directly into local conservation efforts.”
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Western the possum in the spotlight
A series of light-hearted videos are putting the spotlight on human behaviours that cause serious issues for western ringtail possums.
Our western ringtail possum mascot, Western, features in the short videos, to demonstrate how simple changes in behaviour can support possum conservation.
While the videos use humour and slapstick audio and visual effects, they contain important messages for the community.
“Some of our simple day-to-day activities can have hugely detrimental impacts on western ringtail possums,” said GeoCatch project officer Nicole Lincoln.
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Farmers do their bit for the Bay
A recent soil testing workshop brought together farmers from across the Geographe Bay Catchment to get a better handle on their soil nutrients.
Thirty-seven farmers were involved in this year’s soil testing program, with 20,000 soil samples collected across 670 paddocks.
Since 2009, 240 farmers have participated in soil testing in the Geographe Bay Catchment, with an estimated reduction of 4.8 tonnes of phosphorus entering Geographe Bay since the start of the program.
With beef and dairy grazing contributing the largest source of nutrients entering local waterways, working with farmers to improve fertiliser management is critical to the health of the Bay.
“Farmers are conscious of it because it’s costing them money if it’s going down the creek,” said Tutunup farmer Syd.
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Getting the dirt on soil testing
The GeoCatch Sustainable Agriculture Team have supported their local farmers by increasing their soil testing capacity this summer.
While the program has been previously available through GeoCatch and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), this is the first year that GeoCatch staff have done the soil sampling themselves.
DPIRD provided critical support and training to GeoCatch to build our capacity in soil testing. Some farmers also undertook their own soil testing this year.
“Soil testing is a critical part of sustainable farm management,” said GeoCatch Chair and local farmer Felicity Bradshaw.
“It’s an exciting venture for us to be able to expand the soil testing program and offer these services to as many Geographe farmers as possible.”
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Celebrating 30 years of global recognition
2020 marked 30 years since the Vasse-Wonnerup wetlands were recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides a framework for international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands.
GeoCatch Chair, Felicity Bradshaw, says that this is a significant milestone for the local community.
“This is an opportunity for us as a community to reflect on the global, as well as local and cultural, value of the wetland system and the critical habitat it provides,” she said.
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Protect the Bay, Garden this way! |
Add clay to improve sandy soil
Clay modifies the soil structure so that it holds more moisture and nutrients. You only need to add it once to improve sandy soil.
Clay is simple to apply but always follow the recommended rates. It can be added into new gardens and lawns by digging in to 20cm depth. Sprinkle onto established lawns and gardens before lightly watering in. Prepare holes for new plants by combining clay into the existing soil.
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Check out Western the ringtail possum's perilous journey as she navigates through the urban environment. |
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STARTING SOON!
The 7th Ringtail Tally is happening this school holidays and for all of April. Sign up today!
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Need autumn gardening inspo?We captured footage of some amazing local gardens at our Garden Trail event last spring. |
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Fertilising for the Future - RGW
Over 30 representatives from the Fertiliser industry, state government departments and researchers met in Busselton recently to hear the latest research to improve nutrient use efficiency on grazing farms in south west WA. The event, titled...
Read more
rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au
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Shedding light on ecological monitoring data in the...
Scientists from Edith Cowan University have started analysing and interpreting three years of fish, birds, aquatic plants, macroinvertebrates and water regime data, as part of the integrated ecological monitoring program in the Vasse Wonnerup...
Read more
rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au
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Community interest high in Lower Vasse River - RGW
Over 50 people from the local community and management agencies attended a community information session on the Lower Vasse River at the end of November. The event, coordinated by the City of Busselton, aimed to update the community on action...
Read more
rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au
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Sat, Mar 27, 2021 9:00 AM AWST
Catio Tour 2021
Minion Court,
Vasse
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Wed, Mar 31, 2021 6:00 PM AWST
Ringtail Tally: 7 years in the Spotlight
Geographe Bay Yacht Club,
Busselton W
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Sat, Apr 10, 2021 5:00 PM AWST
Ringtail Tally 2021
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Sat, Apr 17, 2021 10:00 AM AWST
Container Planting : It's all in the soil!
Kent Street,
Busselton
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