GeoCatch acknowledges the Wadandi Saltwater people, the Traditional Owners of this land, and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. |
|
Greetings!
Having just left the depths of winter and the Noongar season of Makuru, the wettest and coldest time of year, we are now entering Djilba. This is the time of year that mass explosions of wildflowers occur across our bushland, and cold, rainy days start to lengthen and are interspersed with warmer weather.
In our local Geographe Catchment, the creeks and rivers are mostly full or overflowing, with dams and waterholes abundant with bird life preparing for spring. Despite the stormy weather, this is the ideal time to undertake any final winter planting and revegetation to allow new seedlings the best chance of getting their roots deep into the soil before summer.
Our GeoCatch staff and project officers have been busy as always, delivering exciting and meaningful on-ground projects across the catchment. Recent project highlights include community revegetation, farm fencing, water quality sampling, and many other projects. Catch up with all our activities below to see what we have been up to.
- The GeoCatch Team
|
|
Schools connect with nature for National Tree Day |
Local schools have celebrated National Tree Day with GeoCatch by planting over 1000 trees across Busselton, Capel and Dunsborough. 150 students took part to connect with nature and learn more about remanent vegetation, habitat construction for wildlife and how they can have a positive impact on the environment around them.
Students from Capel Primary, Geographe Primary, Dunsborough Primary and Busselton Primary schools were happy to get up close and personal with their natural environment. “National Tree Day is such a great opportunity for students to connect with both nature and the local community, do something for the local environment and experience the man y benefits of spending time outdoors,” said Nicole Lincoln from GeoCatch.
Laurie Saltarini, Dealer Principal from Busselton Toyota expressed his ongoing support for the program. “Busselton Toyota has been supporting GeoCatch and Schools Tree Day for some years now and it has been a great partnership. Being involved in National Tree Day each year is a way to celebrate nature and do our part to help improve the natural environment in our community.”
|
|
 |
Farmers fence Waterways
As part of Healthy Estuaries WA, farmers across the South West are improving the health of waterways and receiving estuaries by fencing to move stock out of streams and drains, and by revegetating riparian zones (the areas along the banks of a waterway).
|
|
|
|
Ringtail Tally Complete
GeoCatch has completed the 2022 Western Ringtail Possum Tally, with citizen scientists reporting possum sightings in their gardens and backyards across Busselton and Dunsborough over four weeks. The annual tally aims to improve knowledge and awareness of critically endangered western ringtail possums living in urban areas.
|
|
|
|
|
Fertiliser trial site in Vasse
Two new trial sites on dairy farms in the Vasse and Scott River catchments have been launched to demonstrate how top-dressing applications of Iron Man Gypsum (IMG) can keep phosphorus on farms where it is needed, instead of being washed into our estuaries where it can cause algal blooms and water quality issues.
|
|
|
|
State NRM Conference
The 2022 State NRM and Coastal Conference is happening in September. Register now to avoid missing out. |
|
|
|
|
|
Foot and Mouth Disease Resources |
Farmers across the region are increasing precautions to protect their livestock from any potential disease outbreaks. For the very latest information, visit these resources:
|
|
Australia: State of the Environment Report |
Our focus here at GeoCatch is to keep Geographe Bay healthy by protecting and enhancing the natural environment in our catchment.
While focusing on our catchment, it is important to be aware of other environmental issues across Australia.
Every five years, the Australian Government releases a detailed report entitled Australia: State of the Environment. The new information has recently been released, highlighting the key pressures facing our natural environment.
|
|
|
|
Bay OK Winter tips for the garden |
The Noongar season of Djilba (August – September) is a transitional time of year and the start of mass flowering across the South West bushland areas. To make the most of this flowering period and prepare for warmer weather, you can now apply soil wetter, add clay and compost and a generous layer of mulch. Check out all our winter gardening tips.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandy Soil Workshops
If you have ever tried growing a fruit tree in Western Australia, you will know that sandy soils can make establishing plants a complex task. Western Australia contains a range of sandy soil types that can each present their own unique challenges, especially in the Geographe Catchment where we are gardening on what is actually a sand dune.
|
|
Community Planting Day
Wild weather did not deter young Scotch students from Perth and local families from planting at GeoCatch community planting day last weekend. GeoCatch did not expect anyone to turn up in such challenging weather conditions, however the event went on as families and students turned up determined to plant trees unfazed by the wet conditions.
|
|
GeoCatch Resources available for loan |
|
|
|
Did you know that GeoCatch have a range of resources that can be borrowed through 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 or email geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au
|
|
Revitalising Geographe Waterways |
|
Lower Vasse River Sediment Removal |
The City of Busselton has recently completed the first stage of sediment removal in the Lower Vasse River with the aim to improve water quality.
Approximately 600 tonnes of sediment was removed over seven weeks. The area dredged spanned from the Causeway Road Bridge to upstream from the pedestrian bridge, on Peel Terrace.
Sediment will continue to dewater for an additional 6-8 weeks whilst being tested for the presence of acid sulfate soil, treated if required and transported off site for reuse. It is expected these works will be completed by August 2022.
Water quality in the river was closely monitored for the duration of the works to ensure no detrimental impacts from the dredging operation and the dewatering of the sediment occurred.
|
|
|
|
Monitoring water quality across the South West |
Rain, hail or shine the DWER south west water quality monitoring team are out and about in boats, cars or kayaks monitoring water quality of south west estuaries and catchments.
The small team, based in Busselton and Bunbury, monitor the Leschenault Estuary, Hardy Inlet and Vasse Wonnerup wetlands and their catchments monthly.
Results from estuary monitoring are used to develop report cards and provide long-term monitoring of the health of these important ecosystems.
|
|
Welcome to the new GeoCatch Board Members |
|
|
Peter Togno
Peter is a retired Organic Dairy farmer of 42 years who now farms 300 acres in Ruabon. Peter has a long affinity for Geographe Bay having sailed out of Geographe Bay Yacht Club for 38 years. His knowledge of sustainable agriculture is an asset to the board of GeoCatch.
|
|
|
|
Ross Bromell
As well as sitting on the community advisory committee that helped guide the development of the Ngari Capes Marine Park, Ross was the inaugural manager of the Busselton Jetty, and has been a member of the organising committee for the Busselton Jetty Swim since 1999. Currently working in tourism, he has experience in both local and state government.
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Pursell
Growing up near the beach in Abbey inspired Steve to study Marine Science and he has recently moved back to Busselton with his young family. Steve had a career in education and now works in natural resource management as Program Manager for OzFish Unlimited in Western Australia. In this role, Steve works with volunteers to deliver projects involving fish, marron and mussel habitat work as well as community seagrass restoration projects.
|
|
|
|
Vick Winton
Vicky lives in Busselton with her teacher husband and school-age son. She is a consultant who works with and for Aboriginal groups, government agencies, and private developers to research, record and manage Aboriginal heritage sites within legislative frameworks. Vicky is a keen gardener with broad interests in nature, sustainability, and cultural adaptations to environment
|
|
|
|
Meet the new GeoCatch Staff |
|
|
Andrew Bland joins GeoCatch as the Communications and Engagement Officer. Andrew has a background in Environmental Science, education, videography, and photography.
For a complete list of our current staff and their roles, visit Team | GeoCatch
|
|
|
|
Claire Macleay strengthens the GeoCatch Sustainable Agriculture team as a Rivercare Officer. With a wealth of experience in agricultural livestock research, she lives in the Geographe Catchment and is interested in natural resource management and the environment.
|
|
|
|
Note that by unsubscribing to Network News you will be removed from our database. To update your preferences please contact us by email: geocatch@dwer.wa.gov.au
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
