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Network News
December 2023
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GeoCatch acknowledges the Wadandi Saltwater people, the Traditional Owners of this land, and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. | |
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Dear Geo,
Gardeners, farmers, and animal carers across the Geographe Catchment have been preparing for a long, hot summer ahead. Birak is known for the longest days of the year, with dry hot easterly winds in the morning and hopefully a cooling sea breeze in the afternoon.
Gardeners have been learning about waterwise, native street verges in the Bay OK program, farmers have been preparing for the next growing season with soil sampling to inform their farm management decisions, and animal rehabilitation volunteers have been learning how to care for our critically endangered Western Ringtail Possums.
Read on for all the news on what we have been up to in the Geographe Catchment.
Photo: Sabrina Hahn presenting at the Geographe Busselton Wildflower and Environment show organised by the Geographe Community Landcare Nursery.
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GeoCatch celebrates milestones
GeoCatch have celebrated achievements across the Geographe Catchment. Some of the highlights included an increase in protected biodiversity through the fencing of 8 hectares of farmland and the planting of 8,905 seedlings.
We would like to acknowledge all the farmers and volunteers who have contributed to fencing and planting, without your efforts this would not be possible.
Understanding of nutrient sources within the catchment increased with 667 paddocks soil tested and 20 farmer nutrient plans developed to help farmers better understand their fertiliser requirements.
Read more.
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New chair and board members appointed
A big thanks and gratitude goes to Dr. Felicity Bradshaw, who retired from the board of GeoCatch after seven years of continuous service, six of those as Chair. “GeoCatch has given me the opportunity to develop everything I am passionate about, from critically endangered Western Ringtail possums, to the way we apply fertiliser throughout the catchment,” said Felicity.
Incoming Chair, Vicky Winton, expressed her excitement to be part of the ongoing projects facilitated by GeoCatch. “Geocatch runs so many important projects – there’s a way for everyone to get involved – from possum first aid training to the Bay OK native verge program,” said Vicky. Read more.
We would also like to welcome community member Annette Batley, Cr John Fergusson from the Shire of Capel, and Cr Phill Cronin from the City of Busselton to the GeoCatch board.
GeoCatch recently celebrated the retirement of Bev Thurlow. Bev has over 40 years of experience working in public service, 21 of those years as a member of the GeoCatch board.The board and staff of GeoCatch would like to thank Bev for all her hard work, help and support that she has provided during her career.
See all our staff and board members here.
Photo: 2023/2024 board members with GeoCatch staff.
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Western Ringtail Possum News | |
Hot Possums: Heatwave leaves critters in distress
With a predicted hotter-than-average summer ahead, critically endangered Western Ringtail Possums are needing specialist first aid in increasing numbers. Dehydration, burns to their feet, and attacks by domestic animals as they seek relief from the heat have been reported in the South West. Read more.
To find out what to do with injured wildlife, click here.
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Possum tally has a nice ring to it
GeoCatch has released the 2023 Western Ringtail Possum Tally results. Over four weeks in April, 20 Citizen scientists reported 341 possum sightings in their gardens and backyards across Busselton and Dunsborough, of which 149 were identified as different individuals.
The annual tally aims to improve knowledge and awareness of critically endangered western ringtail possums living in urban areas.
Read more.
For results of previous years' tallies, click here.
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Local vets teach first aid for possums
Members of the Western Ringtail Action Group (WRAG) identified a need in the community for better training and care of Western Ringtail Possums.
51 wildlife rehabilitators from six different rehabilitation groups across the South West joined Dr. Richard Lucas from Busselton Vet Hospital and Dr. Felicity Bradshaw for First Aid for Possums, a training course designed specifically for wildlife rehabilitators caring for injured or sick possums.
Read more.
Article: "Toy possum sales fund possum first aid."
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Rebate available to build catios
Cat owners have been celebrating the announcement of funding for homeowners wanting to install catios for their beloved felines.
GeoCatch announced this week they will be offering a second round of Catio Rebates in 2024 as part of a successful Community Stewardship Grant application. The funding increases protection for the critically endangered Nguraren (Western Ringtail Possum) and hopes to protect wildlife for future generations.
Register your interest for the rebate here.
Article: "New funding available for responsible pet ownership"
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Bay OK summer gardening tips
In preparation for the warmer months, now is a great time to work in your garden. Visit the website for summer tips from GeoCatch’s Bay OK program and the Garden Guardians of the Bay.
Bay OK resources
Article: Preparing your garden for summer.
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Residents renew street verges with natives
GeoCatch’s Bay OK Gardens program received funding from Busselton Water’s 2023 Community Partnership Program to support our Bay OK Nature verge gardens project. We are looking for six neighbours to nominate their verges to be transformed into waterwise nature verges.
To find out more, email lisa.massey@geocatch.asn.au
For garden design ideas, click here.
Article: New trend in gardening.
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This former car park in the center of Busselton shows that it is possible to create a low-water, low-nutrient garden in a small space.
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Sandy's wonderful new low-water, low-nutrient garden in Dunsborough.
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Dunsborough Primary hit Geographe Bay for Bay OK Day
Over 700 students from Dunsborough Primary School descended on Geographe Bay for the annual Bay OK Day. Excited students started the day walking from school to the Old Dunsborough boat ramp to take part in environmental-themed educational activities.
They were engaged in 28 different activities presented by environmental groups and agencies to help students better understand the importance of looking after Geographe Bay and the surrounding environment.
Read more.
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Wildflowers WOW the crowd
South West gardeners flocked to Bay OK’s Gardening with Wildflowers workshop to meet celebrity gardener Sabrina Hahn and learn how to encourage birds and wildlife into their gardens, improve their soil, and look after the local waterways at the same time. Read more.
The workshop with Sabrina was presented at the Busselton Wildflower and Environment show organised by the Geographe Community Landcare Nursery.
Photo: Sabrina presenting at the workshop.
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The art of creating healthy soil
South West farmers are looking to improve soil health, increase pest and disease resistance, reduce nutrients entering our waterways, and enhance biodiversity.
The popularity of GeoCatch’s latest workshop, Optimising Pasture Nutrients for Growers, shows that Geographe farmers want to learn more about what can be achieved by building a more nutrient-rich soils environment.
Read more.
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Farmers get hands-on with soil testing
You’d never put oil in your car without checking your dipstick, and the same is true with applying fertiliser on farms. Knowing what’s in your soil before you start applying nutrients is vital.
Last week an enthusiastic group of Geographe farmers learnt the ropes on how take their own farm soil samples as a part of the Geographe Soil Testing Program, a project developed to help give landowners a better understanding of the soil nutrients available on their properties.
Read more.
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Results: 'Soil your undies' challange
What could burying 7 pairs of cotton undies in a Busselton paddock for 11 weeks tell the environmental experts at South West NRM about soil health?
The experiment might sound a tad quirky but the idea was based on a citizen science trend developed by a Queensland university which has swept through farms across Australia over the past couple of years.
Click here for all the results.
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New study highlights benefits of soil testing
A Western Australian study of nearly 700 soil samples has provided new insight into whether agronomic soil testing can be used to assess the likelihood of phosphorus being ‘lost’ into the environment.
Phosphorus applied as fertiliser on farms is lost to waterways through leaching and run-off, which not only leads to a loss of farmers’ investment in fertiliser, but also causes environmental harm downstream.
Find out more here.
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Pasturewise field day
South west farmers and stakeholders gathered at the Pasture Wise Field Day, to experience firsthand the pasture research happening on local farms, right here in Busselton.
The tour, hosted by GeoCatch, South West NRM, Western Dairy and Western Beef, took 45 participants to three trial sites to visually look inspect the pasture trial plots and to hear from the experts about the preliminary findings.
Read more.
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Stirling wetland neighbours to plant 2560 trees
The Stirling wetlands, between Busselton and Capel, are home to a vast array of water birds, insects, and remnant vegetation.
The wetlands cross multiple private properties, and now six neighbours have come together to reconnect remaining wetland habitat areas. To date, 1.5km of stock exclusion fencing is planned for installation to protect 2560 new seedlings.
Read more.
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Regenerative agriculture improves food chain
The 2023 Regenerative Agriculture Conference was held in Margaret River, with farmers from across the Capes region joining others from all over Australia to improve their knowledge of sustainable and healthy farming practices.
Read more.
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Revitalising Geographe Waterways | |
Lower Vasse River Phoslock trial
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation will be leading a Phoslock application in the Lower Vasse River with the aim to reduce summer algal blooms.
Phoslock is a commercially available clay product that effectively removes dissolved phosphorus from water so that it is unavailable for algal growth.
Read more.
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Complexity of Busselton flood protection revealed
With thousands of people living in Busselton only meters above sea level, a lot of work goes into protecting the city from flooding. 43 community members witnessed firsthand the complexity of the local drainage network on a recent bus tour of the Geographe catchment.
GeoCatch organised the tour in response to community concerns over flood risk during winter.
Read more.
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Upcoming Events and Workshops | |
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GeoCatch have a range of resources that can be loaned from our Busselton office. This includes:
- Pottiputkis and belted planting buckets to help with your winter planting
- Fox & feral cats traps
- Dieback treatment kits
- Library resources such as CSIRO’s latest book ‘Natural Asset Farming: Creating Productive and Biodiverse Farms’.
To organise a loan of any of our resources, contact GeoCatch on 0491 069 078, email geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au, or complete the form here.
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Phone: 0491 069 078
Email: geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au
Website: geocatch.asn.au
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