Network News winter 2020

Welcome to our winter edition! We are so lucky to live in a beautiful corner of the country where the natural environment is on our doorstep. Easy access to the natural world is great for our mental and physical health as we journey through Covid 19 restrictions. At GeoCatch, we have been working to deliver information digitally and develop our skills in online event management. We thank the community for taking this (sometimes bumpy!) journey with us! We are also pleased to announce the launch of our new website in the coming weeks...watch this space! - The GeoCatch Team

Humour hones in on cat message We launched our ‘9 Lives’ short animated video in May to highlight the dangers posed to roaming cats. The video, which has almost 5000 views, uses humour to depict the many ways roaming cats can become injured, and the impact they have on local wildlife. “Injuries in roaming cats are extremely common due to cat fights, road accidents and other causes,” said GeoCatch Project Officer Nicole Lincoln. “While roaming cats are often a challenging issue in our neighbourhoods, we have created a fun and engaging video to promote a new trend in responsible cat ownership.” Contrary to popular belief, all cats’ needs can be met inside an enclosed area; ensuring cats are both safe and happy. And their owners are stress-free! Read more Community connects through conservation The sun was shining on over 40 residents who took part in a GeoCatch community planting day in June. Over 1000 seedlings were planted at Dolphin Road Foreshore to provide future habitat for the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum. The seedlings were planted next to last year’s site where 1000 possum-friendly plants are now established and looking healthy. “Planting days are an opportunity for the community to connect with nature and each other, particularly as we all emerge from isolation,” said GeoCatch Project Officer Nicole Lincoln. “Engaging in projects that have a legacy in the community can provide a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. “They are also a lot of fun and a free source of endorphins!” Read more New garden sensational! The Geographe community has embraced the stunning new Bay OK garden installed at Freycinet Park. The garden features old jetty timbers, local native species and Bay OK garden design elements, with a generous seating area and bike racks for visitors. GeoCatch’s Bay OK Officer, Lisa Massey, said that while visual amenity was very important, the proximity of the garden to the Port Geographe canal entrance was also a consideration. “The critical step in the garden installation was to firstly improve the soil with applications of clay and compost to keep moisture and nutrients in the soil and out of the Bay,” she said. The garden is a partnership between the City of Busselton and GeoCatch, with support from the South West Catchments Council, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Read more Beetles with benefits Dung beetles not only reduce fertiliser costs for farmers, they help manage the summer flies that plague the Geographe Bay Catchment each summer. Recognised as ecosystem engineers, dung beetles have played an important role in sustainable farming since they were introduced to Australia in 1967.    Farmers recognise the key role that dung beetles play in nutrient cycling; keeping both profits and nutrients on the farm. Helping to gather more local data on dung beetles, Elaine Haddon and Lindsay Wolridge have set up dung beetle traps on their Yoongarillup and Anniebrook properties to monitor active species as part of the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers project. This national initiative is analysing the performance of dung beetles for livestock producers.  Read more

Winter Bay OK gardening Storms have wreaked havoc on our mature trees, which have lost limbs and leaves! While they might look dreadful, most will recover in spring with new growth through the canopy. Trees will not be wasting their precious reserves trying to renew their leaves during winter; they might lose them all in the next storm! Remember, plants aren’t growing in winter, therefore they don’t need a complete canopy for making food from the sun (that’s what leaves are for). This makes winter a great time for garden planning and design - be it the irrigation, plant selection or garden layout. Lisa's top tips for winter will get your garden looking great again for spring! Read more

Thu, Jul 30, 2020 12:00 PM AWST Dung Beetle webinar Tickets

In short...

Our hilarious 9 Lives video about roaming cats is popular!

Nick Healy - another champion farmer protecting the Bay!

Check out our Bay OK Garden Design video series!

Revitalising Geographe Waterways

School gets a Bay OK welcome - RGW The entrance to Cornerstone Christian College in Dunsborough has received a Bay OK garden makeover following the establishment of a water and nutrient wise garden through GeoCatch. The new garden not only provides an attractive space and... Read more rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au

New funding for Revitalising Geographe Waterways - RGW Priority actions to reduce nutrients entering Geographe waterways are set to continue with the McGowan Government announcing recently that the Revitalising Geographe Waterways program will continue for four years. The funding is part of the new... Read more rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au Geographe dairy farmers play their part in nutrient... Geographe dairy farmers are continuing to show their commitment to reducing nutrients leaving their farms, with five dairy effluent system upgrades being completed this autumn. Effluent from dairy sheds contribute 11% of phosphorus and 7% of... Read more rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au

GeoCatch | Phone: (08) 9781 0111 | Email: geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au Website: https://geocatch.asn.au/

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