Welcome to the winter edition of Network News!
The rivers are flowing and the mornings are frosty! Wetlands, creeks and puddles are popping up everywhere - what a transformation our Catchment makes this time of year!
The team has been focusing on evaluating projects and planning ahead for the next 12 months, as well as rolling out community events to create Bay OK gardens, protect the Western Ringtail Possum and supporting farmers to be more strategic with fertiliser.
Thanks to Peter Watson for this image of the Ironstone Falls in full flow, featured in our 2019 Eco-Calendar.
- The GeoCatch Team
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Get your 'Pets Away, Possums Play' wheelie bin sticker!
Wheelie bin stickers to encourage keeping cats and dogs inside at night are now available for Geographe Bay Catchment residents wanting to pledge their commitment to helping the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum.
The free wheelie bin stickers are for responsible pet owners, or non-pet owners, wishing to help foster best practice pet ownership behaviours within their street or community.
To get your sticker simply pop in to the GeoCatch office, 72 Duchess Street.
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Arbor Day good for Western Ringtail Possum
Local residents braved the elements and got their hands and knees dirty in June, planting 1000 possum-friendly seedlings at Dolphin Road Foreshore to help Western Ringtail Possums.
The community planting day coincided with Arbor Day celebrations and, despite the rain, attracted over 35 enthusiastic community volunteers.
Within a couple of hours residents had transformed the degraded foreshore area into a promising revegetation site, with the long term goal of enhancing habitat for the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum.
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Catchment bus tour a hit
Over 50 enthusiastic community members saw water quality management in action at GeoCatch’s 2019 Revitalising Geographe Waterways Community Bus Tour, held in May.
Attendees welcomed the opportunity to speak directly with farmers and waterway managers from Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, GeoCatch, Water Corporation and City of Busselton.
A total of five sites were visited: Vasse surge barrier, Lower Vasse River, Vasse Diversion Drain and two local farms.
Thanks to everyone who came along!
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Farmers dig in for 40km fencing effort!
Local farmers have given a boost to the health of Geographe waterways over the last three years, fencing 40km of waterways and undertaking 11 hectares of revegetation to protect stream-side vegetation and improve water quality.
Lamb producer, Chris Mayfield, co-owner of Perivale Lamb in Upper Capel, recently installed 3.6 kilometres of fencing to exclude stock from 15 hectares of foreshore on the iconic Capel River.
“Our property has been operational for the last 91 years. We currently run 1500 breading ewes and up until the last 12 months our creek tributaries have been unfenced,” said Chris.
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Turf managers get Fertilise Wise
Twenty-two local landscapers and turf managers learnt how to grow great grass and be smarter with their fertiliser use at a ‘Fertilise Wise’ workshop organised by GeoCatch in May.
The training was delivered by turf expert John Forrest, who taught participants about sustainable turf establishment, soil requirements, types of fertilisers and how to apply them correctly.
The Fertilise Wise fertiliser training program is an initiative of the Phosphorus Awareness Project.
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Getting accurate with farm fertiliser
Farmers had the opportunity to test their fertiliser spreaders for accuracy at the Accu-Spread field day held in Busselton.
Understanding the spread pattern of fertiliser spreaders when using different products can result in higher productivity and healthier waterways.
Brodie Allen, who runs a beef breeders farm in Boallia, was surprised at how his machine performed.
“I was really impressed. I’d rather get accurate spreading than follow wheel ruts,” he said.
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Hold off on the fertiliser til spring!
Your garden doesn't need fertiliser in winter, however if your green thumbs are getting twitchy then winter is a great time to get planting. The soil is moist and spring is just around the corner with plenty of sunshine.
If your garden is looking a little dull, don't worry it's meant to be taking a break in the colder months. If you want a bit more colour this time of year then consider planting winter flowering plants, such as wattles, Native Wisteria, hakeas, or Cut-leaf Hibbertia. The birds and bees will thank you!
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National Tree Day was celebrated on 28 July
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Your Pets Away, Possums Play bin stickers are available now!
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Revitalising
Geographe Waterways
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New trials to improve water quality in regional...
Scientists from across Australia will use state-of-the-art technology over the next four years to work with grazing farmers in Western Australia to reduce nutrient loss off farm and improve water quality in local waterways and estuaries. More...
Read more
rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au
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WA water program recognised for innovation - RGW
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) featured prominently at this year's Australian Water Association's National Awards. After winning the State award category for Program Innovation, DWER's Revitalising Geographe Waterways ...
Read more
rgw.dwer.wa.gov.au
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