Invasive species up for feral interrogation

Landholders, community groups and local invasive species management champions are encouraged to have a feral conversation at the Invasive Species Interrogation Forum on August 22.

Seed funding from National Science Week has enabled the City of Greater Geraldton to host the free forum in line with the 2014 Goodness Sustainability and Innovation Festival, and is an opportunity for landholders to be informed about the invasive species management programs happening in the region.

Keynote speaker, Dr Michelle Christy, from the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre will give an inspiring talk; and wins can be celebrated with Simon Merewether, State Operations Manager for Invasive Species from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

City of Greater Geraldton Environmental Sustainability Officer, Bronte Grant, said she is excited about the prospect of passionate landholders getting together to talk all things feral.

“The forum aims to bring land managers together to gather momentum for invasive species management for the goodness of our environment and economy, and is timely for the finalisation of the City’s Draft Invasive Species Plan,” she said.

“There is significant support from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Durack Institute of Technology, Department of Parks and Wildlife and Project Dieback to make this a successful event.”

Landholders, community groups and local invasive species management champions are encouraged to have a feral conversation at the Invasive Species Interrogation Forum on August 22.

Seed funding from National Science Week has enabled the City of Greater Geraldton to host the free forum in line with the 2014 Goodness Sustainability and Innovation Festival, and is an opportunity for landholders to be informed about the invasive species management programs happening in the region.

Keynote speaker, Dr Michelle Christy, from the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre will give an inspiring talk; and wins can be celebrated with Simon Merewether, State Operations Manager for Invasive Species from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

City of Greater Geraldton Environmental Sustainability Officer, Bronte Grant, said she is excited about the prospect of passionate landholders getting together to talk all things feral.

“The forum aims to bring land managers together to gather momentum for invasive species management for the goodness of our environment and economy, and is timely for the finalisation of the City’s Draft Invasive Species Plan,” she said.

“There is significant support from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Durack Institute of Technology, Department of Parks and Wildlife and Project Dieback to make this a successful event.”

City cut trees in CBD

Noticed less greenery in the Geraldton CBD?

Several trees have been cut due to infrastructure damage.

Two trees at the West End of Cathedral Ave have been removed, two at the intersection of Cathedral Avenue and Marine Terrace, along with three trees removed from the Foreshore.

A statement from the City said, "the trees were damaging community infrastructure and they will be replaced with more suitable species."

Enjoy a guided wildflower walk

Chapman River Friends (CRF) invite YOU to join one of their WALKS in the Park.

Dates are as follows:

Saturday 9th August @ 9am - meet at Spalding Park Tuesday 12th August @ 3pm - meet at the west end of Fairfax Road in Moresby Sunday 17th August @ 2pm - meet at Spalding Park

The walk are around 2 hours. Please wear closed walking shoes, hat. BYO water bottle.

CHILDREN WELCOME!

NEW Wildflowers Brochures ($5.00) are available from Visitor Centre, Museum, Aussie Shop and Read-a-Lot-Books, or at the walks.

For more information contact Jenna on 041796073 or visit the CRF Facebook Page. 

Wildflowers Galore!

With an above average rainfall throughout Mullewa and the surrounding areas this year, the wildflowers are in full bloom.

Carpets of colour will fill areas in the Mid West and residents and tourists will be treated to yet another brilliant wildflower season with more than 11,000 wildflower species in full bloom.

Some of these species include vibrant clusters of everlastings, daisies, wreath flowers, hakea and orchids.

Now is the time to take the family on a Sunday drive and explore the country side. Wildflower season runs from July through to October, so better start checking it out.

Places to find Wildflowers include:

• Mullewa
• Eneabba area and Western Flora Caravan Park
• Badgingarra
• Lesueur National Park
• Morawa
• Canna
• Perenjori
• Coalseam Conservation Park
• Mingenew
• Three Springs
• Carnamah
• Coorow
• Northampton
• Kalbarri National Park
• Mill Point Lookouk
• Chapman River Regional Park

For more information on wildflowers contact the staff at the Geraldton Visitor Centre on (08) 9921 3999, email to info@geraldtonvisitorcentre.com.au, visit the website on www.geraldtonvisitorcentre.com.au or check out their Facebook Page. Or contact the Mullewa Information Centre on (08) 9961 1500.

Foul stench from sewer making life miserable for Utakarra residents

ABC news have posted a story to their website about the foul stench that is coming from a sewer in Utakarra. Residents of the suburb gathered yesterday to speak about the issue and the ABC was there with them. To read more and to view the article click here.   

City undertakes further geotechnical survey at Beresford Foreshore

As part of the City of Greater Geraldton’s Beresford Foreshore Protection and Enhancement Project, geotechnical investigations will continue on the Beresford Foreshore starting this week for up to two weeks.

A local engineering company will excavate several test pits at three locations on the beach with a backhoe between the breakwater and Trigg St at times coinciding with the low tide.

The test pits will allow for the beach sediment to be assessed for properties including: sand colour and size, gravel inclusion, water level depth and the depth to rock/reef.

The backhoe will require access over the foreshore reserve and any access tracks created for the testing will be reinstated on completion of the works.

In addition, investigative work will be carried out at Pages Beach with regards to sourcing sand for capital beach replenishment of Midalia’s Beach on the Beresford Foreshore.

For further information or information on the Beresford Foreshore Coastal Protection and Enhancement Project contact Michael Dufour on 9956 6600 or council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Goodness Festival 2014

The Goodness & Innovation festival is on for 2014 starting on the 16th of August, this year it promises to bigger and better than ever. The Mid West's unique Festival celebrating 'Goodness' will run from the 15th to the 31st of August. The Goodness Festival is all about celebrating sustainability and innovation in the Mid West aiming to educate, empower and inspire the wider community.

The 2013 festival saw more than 1100 people attend 20 events and 53 nominations were also received for the Goodness Awards. This year there will be more events, including an Energy-Water Symposium and Startup Weekend, as well as the Awards night, Exhibition and community events.

The Festival will feature an abundance of tours, exhibitions, lectures, workshops and awards in and around Geraldton. From Urban heat planning to River Biodiversity Tours at Chapman River to Mobile and Web Technology Training; there’s something for everyone!

The 16 day long festival will provide the community with information and experiences to enable organizations and individuals to live more socially responsible, sustainable and technically savvy lives.

After all, small changes make a big difference in our community. Share the Festival with your friends and come and talk to experts like Nigel Tapper and Lisa Grieve amongst others.

If you have an idea for an event there is still room for bookings, to book a spot or for information on the festival call Pollinators on 0466 694 702

Full details of the Festival are online here. [tentblogger-vimeo 75920758]

Geraldton is a Biodiversity Hotspot

Biodiversity - Noun:The variety of plant and animal life in the world, or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable. Oxford English Dictionary

The Geraldton area is one of only 34 of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and is of very high biodiversity value. However it is under significant threat.

The City of Greater Geraldton and the Shire of Chapman Valley are seeking community support to maintain this important and desirable habitat, through a survey to develop private landholder incentives to preserve Geraldton’s ranking as a biodiversity hotspot.

City Senior Environmental and Sustainability Officer, Robyn Nicholas, said the two local governments’ policies and strategies show a commitment to environmental values, and to halting and reversing the observed trends towards collapse of local ecosystems.

“The City has developed a Local Biodiversity Strategy, which can be found on the City’s website under town planning then public consultation on www.cgg.wa.gov.au, to address some of the issues and the values of which historically have been hard to quantify,” she said.

“However, more recently concepts including ecosystem services, triple bottom line, sustainability indicators, natural asset management and carbon price have helped to identify the value of such areas.

“The development of the strategy included substantial community and stakeholder engagement, and to achieve the vision, will need stronger action from government and must provide for stronger support for local community groups and private landowners.

“Indeed an action from the strategy is to develop and support an incentives program for private landholder conservation,” said Ms Nicholas.

“We would like private landholders’ thoughts on how to encourage the retention, protection and management of this vegetation on private land by encouraging them to complete a survey and be in the draw to win 50 local provenance seedlings valued at $165 each.”

To discover how this program could work the City is encouraging private landholders to complete a survey which can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K8FWC2P and closes on Thursday July 24, 2014. You could get the chance to win two prizes of 50 local provenance seedlings valued at $150 each.

For more information contact Robyn Nicholas on 9956 6629 or robynn@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Shark washed up

Here's Jess Keily from GWN7's tweet.

4m Great White Shark washed ashore north of Geraldton. More on @GWN7News tonight 5.30! pic.twitter.com/akZeuH8TWf

— Jess Keily (@jesskeily) July 15, 2014

Mini tornado

Mini tornado went through Wonthella this morning causing damage to property, fences etc... SES have just finished working on a house in Third Street.Thanks Sally for the pics.

Furniture that's good for the planet

If you're roughly my age, 33, you will remember the message from that old kid's show "Captain Planet", that sought to make kids around the world believe that true justice involved the three R's, reduce, reuse and recycle. Grant and Tina from "Second Time Around" are doing just that, and making some very groovy furniture in the process.

The have a Facebook page where they post their creations for sale, and business seems to be ticking over nicely, with plenty of their posts displaying a "sold" comment underneath.

Here's a few of their excellent creations. And you can check them out on Facebook by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Secondtimearound/1462054397346445

This is called a PATIO PIG - basically an outdoor heater made from old air compressor

Stores away for summer ( all parts fit inside )$250

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Update from Chapman River Friends

PLANTING DAY in the park, It's done!Saturday 5th we did some planting in the Chapman River Regional Park, about 15 volunteers turned up, put in some 500 plants! Very well organised on site by the council staff. Great job!!! Now rain PLEASE!!!

GUIDED WALKS in the park. Sunday 6th afternoon we had a very good walk although it threatened to rain and there was a cold wind. 22 people came. We did the short walk along the north side crossing opposite Spalding Golf course. Plants had opened up, some birds like the Cormorants and Darters were there and we all looked at a Long Neck Turtle in the river at the crossing.

Very cool trapdoor burrow

Something you don't see every day

Steve White reporting for Science Network WA:

A FAUNA-monitoring expedition at Eurardy Reserve, 145km north of Geraldton, has revealed the intricate life of trapdoor spiders.

Bush Heritage Australia and the Conservation Council of Western Australia were completing fauna surveys as part of managing the 30,000 hectare reserve, when they stumbled on a spider trapdoor.

Click here to read the full article, including Dr Vanessa Westcott describing the expeditions discovery of the cleverly camouflaged trapdoor burrow.

FREE Guided walk in the Chapman Park - Sunday

Event Location: Spalding Park parking Event Details: Next Guided Walk in the Chapman Park :

Sunday 6 July at 3pm

Meet at Spalding Park (entry is off Chapman Road between the roundabout and the old bridge)

Focus will be on birds, animal tracks and traces, wildflowers.

The flowering on the river valley slopes is spectacular at present - the small wattles and thryptomene, in full bloom and there is so much more to come..

Children welcome!

For more information contact Alan and Nancy on 99231314

Start Date and Time: 06 Jul 2014 03:00 PM Event Duration: 2 hours

For more Geraldton and Midwest events, check out the Geraldton Events Calendar on our app or website. It's free to post your community event too.

Stop making a mess

The roadside collection that is an annual occurrence here in Geraldton is a great time to have that much needed clean out. And each year, we're reminded that one person's trash is another's treasure.

But not everyone is being quite respectful while treasure hunting.

One Rangeway resident, while awaiting the collection to occur on her street posted the following on Everything Geraldton:

Kate: To be quite honest I'm fed up of people rampaging through my rubbish scattering it everywhere & I refuse to go spend hours cleaning it up. It's making me very frustrated, just had four people tip everything out the bags & rubbish and when I asked them to ensure they clean up their mess they laughed and walked off.

Post by Kate Marie Williams.

Water out in Sunset

We've had multiple reports of the water being off in Sunset Beach this morning due to a fault on Whitworth St. At this stage, crews are on site and assessing the situation. They have not let the Water Corporation know how long the water will be off. The Water Corporation faults line is 13 13 75. Thanks Kiera

If you were concerned about ammonium nitrate in Kojarena, you can rest easy for now

Council have rejected, again, the proposal to store ammonium nitrate, a dangerous good, at Kojarena. The proposal was put forward by Blue Energy Explosives. Several members of the community reached out to Everything Geraldton during the week expressing concern of the storage of the highly dangerous substance in Kojarena.

At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public, including neighbouring farmers, expressed serious concerns over the proposal .

Cr Van Styn said he inspected the property and despite the fact that there was the potential for more jobs, he believed the fact that the buffer zone encroached on someone else's property, as well as other factors, made the proposal unacceptable. Phil Melling, director of sustainable communities, said the buffer zone was completely on the proponent's property, according to their submission.

Mayor Ian Carpenter said he believed more public feedback was needed before considering the proposal.

Councillor Jerry Clune said at least three meetings have already been held with the proponent, and they had been largely difficult to contact on the matter, rejecting the notion more consultation was needed with Blue Energy Explosives, and calling on his peers to support his motion to reject Blue Energy Explosive's proposal outright.

The vote was 10/4 to reject the proposal.

White van occupants reportedly ripping open garbage bags

We've had multiple reports of people breaking open bags left for the roadside collection, leaving rubbish strewn around. Keep an eye out for a white van and report any inappropriate behaviour to the police.

International tourism guru to explore Mid West opportunities

The Mid West region’s largely under-realised tourism potential may soon get a boost following the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MWCCI) securing a visit by Dr Richard Benfield from the Central Connecticut State University in the USA, who will conduct a workshop “Wildflowers and Garden Tourism” during his whirlwind trip to Western Australia.

According to Dr Benfield, more people visit gardens in the USA than go to Disneyland and Disneyworld combined. Although garden tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism activities it is often not understood and poorly promoted.

“The links between garden tourism and marketing of the wildflowers as a major feature of the outstanding natural environment of the Mid West region are obvious,” stated Dr Benfield

“And I look forward to engaging with local governments, tourism operators and all businesses and environmental organisations with and interest in promoting the magnificent and renowned flora of the region."

Richard is the author of the book "Garden Tourism”, the only book that looks at this tourism sector, as well as lecturing on garden tourism, he has travelled the world looking at this tourism sector and addressing audiences on how to develop the industry.

Research indicates that a garden tourist is also a tourist interested in food, heritage and the culture of an area. Western Australia has an ideal opportunity to maximise the tourist opportunities around gardens and our unique flora.

“The Mid West region’s wildflowers already attract international visitors but much greater visitation is possible if correctly promoted, creating a significant opportunity for growing this important sector of the region’s economy,” said MWCCI CEO Rob Jefferies.

The Kalbarri National Park alone boasts 800 species of flowering shrubs but the Mid West region is widely known for its wildflowers. August and September bring the best displays with everlastings, banksias, grevilleas, kangaroo paws , wreath flower, hakea, heath brush and spider orchids all putting on a show.

The Mid West covers approximately 468,712 square kilometers (including offshore islands) or nearly one-fifth of the area of Western Australia and its unpredictable element of the WA wildflower season creates anticipation and excitement every spring, with enthusiasts’ intent on the search for where these illustrious, yet ephemeral delights will emerge.

There is a growing tourism industry surrounding the seasonal search for the elusive wildflower – with genuine reason for specialised local botanists and tour guides who can save visitors time and frustration in locating spots.

To help the journey John Stanley of John Stanley Associates has invited Dr Richard Benfield to visit WA and present three workshops across the State.

The workshops will focus on how tourism can help the local economy, what the visitor is looking for, how to build on the region’s wildflower assets and the lessons we can learn from garden tourism from overseas experiences, and how to apply this to improve the sector in the region and across WA.

If interested in participating in the Mid West workshop to be held on the afternoon of Monday 7th July contact John Stanley by emailing john@johnstanley.com.au

Lime incorporation a hot topic

Examining methods of lime incorporation to best suit the farm business has been the focus recent Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) field walks in the northern Wheatbelt.

DAFWA development officer Wayne Parker said growers had the opportunity to examine demonstration sites at Carnamah, Morawa and Binnu using different techniques to incorporate lime at depth.

Mr Parker said improving the time for return on lime investment was front of many growers’ minds.

“Great extension work by DAFWA researcher Chris Gazey over the past two years has highlighted the need to address low pH in the soil below 10cm,” Mr Parker said.

“Combine this with the dry periods during the winter of recent years and reduced yield as a direct impact of poor soil, and growers are hungry for information on getting lime to depth.”

A collaboration between DAFWA and Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC), with funding support from the Australian Government, features demonstration sites that are using tillage to achieve lime burial to depths below 10cm.

“This series of demonstrations is about protecting and improving your soil resource,” Mr Parker said.

“A key message from the field walks was that growers need to look at why they till – is it to incorporate lime, improve weed control, renovate compaction, reduce the influence of non- wetting soil or is it a combination of these things.

“Understanding cost, speed and timeliness is important when considering the tillage option for your business.”

Implements used reflect the potential return at each site. Those used at Carnamah are not the same as those at Morawa or Binnu. Common to each demonstration is the offset disc and a deep ripping treatment.

Where the mouldboard plough had been used (Binnu and Carnamah), lime was layered at the depth of working, approximately 25cm, and not evenly distributed through the working.

“Whenever a mouldboard is used it is important to know the pH of the soil being brought to the surface,” Mr Parker said. “A low sub surface pH brought to the surface will prove difficult for crop establishment.

“The offset disc provides speed and thorough mixing to the working depth. Working depth of the offset is approximately 10cm. This method of incorporation does little to change soil compaction or non-wetting.

“A spader will achieve similar level of mixing to the offset disc. However, mixing is to greater depths. Spading has a positive impact on non-wetting and soil compaction. This comes at a far greater cost and slower speed.”

Mr Parker said much discussion focused on the ability of the deep ripper to get lime to depth, particularly as this was a process that many growers already have as part of their paddock preparation.