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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Greetings!
Welcome to our winter newsletter. As we transition from the season of Makuru to Djilba, the days are still short with lots of rain and cold fronts, but it is not long now until the Geographe catchment explodes in an array of wildflowers and green feed across our farmlands.
As we move through the depths of winter and into springtime, GeoCatch project officers have been busy planting trees with school groups, helping farmers with crop planning in the Grazing Matcher program, preparing for a new round of on-farm soil testing throughout the catchment, and many other activities.
Read on for all the news on what we have been up to in the Geographe Catchment.
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GeoCatch welcomes our new Coordinator, Harriet Wyatt. Harriet has been involved in sustainable land and asset management for over 20 years delivering and developing programs for natural, historic and landscape conservation within the context of farming, environmental and tourism businesses. Having recently moved to the area she is looking forward to meeting and working with the community across the range of GeoCatch programs and partnerships. |
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Impounded cats receive catio treatment |
Impounded cats will now spend time in a newly installed catio while awaiting collection from pet owners at the City of Busselton Animal Care Facility. Cat owners can see first-hand what a well-designed and constructed catio looks like, including all the essential features required to ensure cats are safe and comfortable while contained.
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1000 Seedlings planted for possum habitat |
In the lead-up to World Environment Day, hardy volunteers braved strong winds to help plant 1000 seedlings at Dolphin Rd boat ramp foreshore in Busselton.
Many of the volunteers have participated in previous planting at this site and were excited to see the fruits of their labour as the trees mature. The native seedlings help improve habitat for the critically endangered western ringtail possum and provide habitat corridors for other local species.
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Hollowed Out: Nest building workshop |
Sixty participants recently attended the Nest Building for Wildlife workshop at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Families were shown how to build nest boxes that will now be installed in bushland areas for local animals to nest and raise their young. GeoCatch will monitor the boxes and share the data throughout the year.
Presented by award-winning environmental scientist, writer, educator, and wildlife filmmaker Simon Cherriman, this workshop gave participants the confidence and skills to make and install nest boxes that will benefit native wildlife.
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‘Pets Night In’ saves wildlife |
Seventy-five families have joined local film and TV actor Myles Pollard, world surfing league family the Macaulay’s, and local vets by committing to keep their pets contained or inside for ‘Pets’ Night In’.
Organised by GeoCatch, the second annual Pets' Night In encourages responsible pet ownership to help keep pets safe and protect local wildlife from wandering animals.
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1000 trees planted for National Tree Day |
Local schools have celebrated National Tree Day with GeoCatch by planting over 1000 trees across the Geographe Catchment. Students from five schools took the opportunity to connect with nature and learn more about remnant vegetation, habitat construction for wildlife, and how they can positively impact the environment around them.
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In preparation for the cooler months and plentiful rain, now is a great time to work in your garden. Visit the website for winter tips from GeoCatch’s Bay OK program and the Garden Guardians of the Bay.
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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.
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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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Celebrating Bay OK Gardening |
GeoCatch has successfully concluded a five-year project that promotes the benefits of low-nutrient gardening practices to both gardeners and the local environment.
The Bay OK Gardens program has been running in the Geographe catchment for over 12 years. It promotes low-nutrient and waterwise gardens through educational workshops, online resources, garden assessments, and demonstration sites to improve water quality in the Geographe catchment. One of the project’s main aims is to reduce urban fertiliser use by focusing on community behaviour change and raising awareness of Bay OK gardening behaviours.
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Turning sand into soil with Bay OK Gardening |
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Superheroes enlisted to protect Geographe Bay |
The Garden Guardians of the Bay continue to show the way toward beautiful gardens that help protect Geographe Bay. Busselton’s Vasse-Wonnerup wetlands provide the most significant breeding habitat for black swans in Western Australia, and regularly support over 20,000 waterbirds. One of the major threats facing these important wetlands is excess nutrient runoff from surrounding households and farms.
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Flood protection in Busselton
Basin, drains, culverts, gates and bars - how does it all work?
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Community members are invited on a bus tour of the Geographe Catchment for a unique insight into Busselton's drainage network. Join managers from the Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to learn how this system works, the role of flood modeling, and response measures. The bus tour will visit key drainage infrastructure sites.
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Busselton Wildflower and Environment Show |
When: Friday 6th and Saturday 7th October 2023
Where: Geographe Bay Yacht Club
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From Scraps to Soil: composting workshop |
This Bay OK Workshop demonstrates compost production, composting systems, and will closely examine the science of soil microbes through the microscope. Perfect for the home gardener or hobby farmer.
When: Sunday 10th September 2023
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Reflecting on a decade of science and management of the Vasse Wonnerup |
In April 2013, a mass fish kill in the Vasse Wonnerup wetlands was a pivotal moment in how the wetlands are managed.
Reflecting on the past 10 years, scientists and managers came together to present to the community at an update hosted by GeoCatch in Busselton.
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New Chair announced for the Vasse Taskforce |
Water Minister Simone McGurk has announced the appointment of North Metropolitan MLC Pierre Yang as the new Chair of the Vasse Taskforce.
Mr Yang will lead the important work being conducted by the Vasse Taskforce, reaffirming the WA Government’s ongoing commitment to managing the health of the Geographe waterways.
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Revitalising Geographe Waterways Report on activities 2020–22 |
Revitalising Geographe Waterways aims to improve water quality, waterway health, and management of Geographe waterways.
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Farmers attend revegetation workshop |
Dedicated farmers from across the Geographe Catchment gathered at Sabina River to learn how to bring the waterways on their properties back to life. GeoCatch Rivercare Officer Claire Macleay and revegetation specialist Greg Overton used three different rehabilitated sites to illustrate what can be achieved with fencing and revegetation.
Greg emphasized to the group that site preparation before planting is vital to the success of the plants. “Ground preparation and weed control are the most important parts of a revegetation project. If you don’t get on top of weeds, they will quickly outcompete your seedlings,” said Greg.
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Sustainable Agriculture team visit rural stores |
The GeoCatch Sustainable Agriculture team recently visited rural supply stores in Busselton to chat with some of our hardworking farmers in the Geographe catchment.
If you want to know more about how GeoCatch can support you and your farm, click here.
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It was a chilly afternoon in Abba River for the June Grazing Matcher meeting at Jane and Peter’s farm, Boltham Downs.
The Grazing Matcher program helps to increase farmer knowledge and skills in best practice grazing management to improve productivity and profits while minimising impacts to the environment.
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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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