Land care comes with Price in Durack communities

Durack, Australia’s largest Federal electorate, will share in $5 million of Federal funding under the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants.

Melissa Price, Member for Durack said the funding would help communities, catchments and groups in Durack to conserve, engage, protect and trial, all with the aim of developing sustainable agricultural practices or ensuring the health of our environment for generations to come.

“I am pleased to announce that thirteen project in Durack have been successful in attracting funding from the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants round, in places like the Pilbara, Moore, Mingenew, Yalgoo and the Ord,” Ms Price said.

“We all have a part to play in caring for the land. These projects are a very practical hands-on way of involving a large cross-section of society in doing just that – caring for the land we all love.

“It’s great to see many Durack community-based groups getting involved in the local environment.”

Anne Wilkins, Executive Officer of the West Midlands Group said they were delighted to learn of the Federal funding announcement.

“The grant means a great deal to West Midlands Group and will enable us to undertake a new technology case study and attract speakers on new innovative technology to the the West Midlands Group field day. We have more than 100 members and I expect they will all benefit from this $16 000 grant,” Ms Wilkins said.

The Australian Government is investing over $2 billion in managing Australia’s natural resources over four years.

“We are putting Landcare back at the centre of natural resource management. These grants should have lasting benefits for the environment and productive agricultural landscapes,” Ms Price said.

Funding under this component of the National Landcare Programme will support farmers, Indigenous and community groups, to enhance the environment and improve management of our natural resource base. Australia wide, there are 291 projects that will receive funding of between $5000 and $20 000. Of these, 148 projects will have a strong agricultural focus and 143 will focus on delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Further information about the National Landcare Programme can be found online at www.nrm.gov.au.

20 Million Trees continues to grow across the country

In a major step forward for the 20 Million Trees Programme, the Australian Government has released a Request for Tender that seeks to engage service providers to undertake large-scale re-vegetation projects across Australia.

The Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme is a key election commitment, providing $50 million over four years to deliver tree planting projects across the country.

The Request for Tender process will engage one or more service providers to deliver large-scale tree planting projects across Australia, benefiting both the environment and local communities.

Melissa Price, Member for Durack said that service providers engaged through the tender process will work with community groups and landholders to deliver large-scale tree planting projects.

“These projects will re-establish green corridors and urban forests, improving habitat for our threatened species and creating green spaces to improve the liveability of our cities and towns.”

Ms Price encouraged local service providers with relevant skills and experience to get involved in this significant government initiative.

“Successful service providers will make an important contribution to the community while providing valuable environmental benefits,” Ms Price said.

Information about the 20 Million Trees Request for Tender is available on the AusTender website.

The Request for Tender follows the recent 20 Million Trees Programme small competitive grants round, which invited communities in to get involved in the programme by applying for grants of between $20 000 and $100 000 to undertake native tree planting projects. Successful applicants from this grant round are expected to be announced shortly.

More information about the 20 Million Trees Programme is available at www.nrm.gov.au/20-million-trees.

Saudi's Impressed with Australia's Agricultural Relationships

The Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) of Western Australia recently hosted 11 senior leaders from the Saudi Arabian agricultural and natural resource management (NRM) departments.

Their visit was funded by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to better understand how Australian agricultural industries work with farmers in poor soil quality areas.

The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council’s Sarah Jeffery and Violetta Pristel, the Department of Agricultural and Food Western Australia’s Adele Killen, Farmwood’s Peter Ritson and local farmers Gary and Kerry Butcher played host to the Saudi Arabian leaders while they were in the NAR, walking them through a project measuring the carbon stocks in trees growing in saline soils.

The Saudi leaders expressed some amazement at the collaboration between industry and farmers, identifying such collaboration as one of the great accomplishments for Australian agriculture. They lamented that partnerships between the sectors was not well established in their country.

“It was great to be able to show them one of the regions six carbon salinity sites to compare, share and discuss international practices,” said Ms Jeffery.

While Farmwoods’ Mr Ritson explained that, at the site visited, the quantity of carbon sequestered was not high, but land owner Mr Butcher explained the importance of the vegetation to the whole farm’s system. “The stubble, the pasture, the saltbush and the trees all work together,” said Mr Butcher.

The Saudi Arabian leaders also showed particular interest in understanding Australia’s approach to revegetation on farms, including species are used and the carbon sequestered.

A species that created a lot of discussion was the bluebush (Maireana brevifolia) as the visitors had not come across this species before and were interested in how the species self-sowed without having to be planted. The common species oldman saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) was also major talking point at the site as Saudi Arabia also use this species for revegetation of saline land.

Ms Jeffery said, “Another interesting discovery was learning that in Saudi Arabia, much like Australia, they have little success with direct seeding for revegetation and also use seedlings over seeding”.

“This was actually quite fascinating. They explained to us that they had been using seedlings as a preferred method to seeding but were under the impression that this might be seen as correct practise and almost seemed relieved to find out that we actually do this too”, Ms Jeffery said.

Fracking exploration permit granted over Jurien Bay and the Pinnacles - National tourism icon under threat

Conservation groups, local communities and farmers have reacted with anger and alarm at the issuing of a new oil and gas exploration permit covering tourist icons, towns and nature reserves on the Mid-west 'Turquoise Coast'.

The new exploration permit has been granted to shale gas fracking company Norwest Energy and covers the towns of Jurien Bay, Green Head, Cervantes and Lancelin as well as several nature reserves and national parks including the iconic Pinnacles Desert (Nambung National Park).

Conservation Council spokesperson Chantelle Roberts said: “It’s astonishing that an exploration permit for unconventional gas has been granted over communities and tourism icons with no community consultation and no environmental assessment. This area includes 4 towns, 4 Nature Reserves and 3 National Parks including the Pinnacles Desert tourism icon.”

“Generations of Western Australians have surfed, fished, camped and holidayed in these areas, so to see them turned into gasfields would be horrifying and will be strongly opposed.”

“National parks and nature reserves are intended to protect nature. The issuing of oil and gas exploration permits over these areas is totally unacceptable and totally incompatible with the intended purpose of these areas.”

“These fragile coastal areas need to be protected and treasured for their conservation and tourism values, not opened up for oil and gas exploration.”

“If the State Government did not intend for gas companies to be drilling and fracking in national parks and towns, they should not have granted this exploration permit over these areas.”

Speaking on behalf of the Clean Water Healthy Land Alliance, Piers Verstegen said “The community at Green Head are already fighting to protect their drinking water reserve from fracking plans by AWE Energy.  Now they are faced with an exploration permit over the town itself.”

“We are supporting communities to defend their farms, groundwater, health and local environment against gas fracking proposals across the Mid West.

"Several communities have already declared their towns ‘gasfield free’, and a growing number of local Shires, farmers, and businesses are speaking out against gas fracking.

“The gas fracking industry does not have a social license to operate in Western Australia and The Council will continue to support and work with local communities to resist this unwanted and unnecessary industry.”

“We applaud the Premier’s call for more action on climate change – but opening up our iconic tourist locations and holiday towns to dirty fracking is not the answer – it could ruin the very things we want to protect.”

Mid West local residents tell Norwest at company AGM: fracking not welcome on the Turquoise Coast

The gas fracking company which has been issued a controversial exploration lease over the Pinnacles, Jurien Bay, Leeman, Cervantes and other Mid West coastal towns has been challenged by local residents opposed to fracking at the company’s AGM today.

In an open letter to Norwest Energy shareholders, 275 residents from the small coastal communities said they were strongly opposed to gas fracking in the region and would work together in efforts to protect their land and water against the industry. 

The letter urges shareholders to withdraw investment support for Norwest Energy and warns that “any attempts by Norwest Energy to explore or develop unconventional gas resources in this area will be met with strong, organised and united community opposition.” (full text of letter below).

The latest action comes after two Mid West Shires adopted policies to protect their land and water from gas fracking, and to support the growing number of communities opposed to the practice. 

Conservation Council spokesperson Chantelle Roberts, who delivered the letter at the meeting on behalf of residents, said "Local communities are sending a clear message today to Norwest Energy and its shareholders that the company does not have a social license to operate in their region.

“The people of this region are horrified that their beautiful coast, national parks, nature reserves and their farms and water reserves are at risk from unnecessary drilling and exploration.”

"Gas fracking exploration leases have been issued over towns, national parks, farmland and groundwater areas with no community consultation, no environmental assessment, and no adequate controls to protect land, water, public health or the environment.

"Fortunately, these strong communities are coming together against gas fracking, uniting to defend their land, water and health against this unwanted toxic industry.

“Gas fracking is one of the most polluting industries in the world and will be strongly opposed in the Mid West, Kimberley and other regions of WA where it is planned.  

Mid West residents, some of whom have been working to fight fires in their own areas over the last 24 hours, sent their photos and quotes to the meeting so shareholders could hear their voices. (more quotes and pictures are available on request)

Jim Clarke, veteran, Jurien Bay
“We don’t need it, we can’t take the risk. Fracking is first class stupidity in every aspect, no sane reason for it.”

Clem Winton, Green Head
“I’m dead against fracking, it is morally wrong. There are too many unanswered questions and no one will guarantee to protect our environment”

Judy Briggs, Business Owner, Jurien Bay
“I want your guarantee our water will remain clean and healthy for my children, grandchildren and their children”

Andrea Gray, Jurien Bay
“Climate change, water security - withdraw your investment NOW for our communities and your community’s future.”  

Comment: Chantelle Roberts 0416 363 027  

Open letter to Norwest Energy Shareholders  

Dear Norwest Energy Shareholders,  

We the undersigned local residents are from the area including Cervantes, Green Head, Jurien Bay and Lancelin. This area has just been granted to Norwest as an exploration permit for unconventional gas.  

We are horrified that Norwest is planning to extract unconventional gas by fracking in our farms, our nature reserves, our groundwater resource areas and in our communities.  

The area granted for exploration includes 4 coastal townships, 3 nature reserves and 3 national parks including the iconic Pinnacles desert (Nambung National Park). The permit area also contains a number of groundwater resource areas which our farms, businesses and communities depend upon.  

We understand that Norwest applied to the State Government and was subsequently granted the exploration permits over these areas, however no community consultation has been done either by the company or by the government agencies.

We write to advise you that Norwest does not have a social license to undertake exploration for unconventional gas in this region. We do not want to live in an unconventional gasfield and we will vigorously defend our right to clean water and healthy land.  

We will be actively opposing exploration activities by Norwest Energy in this area in order to protect our water and land, and to preserve our iconic tourism sites.  

Any attempts by Norwest Energy to explore or develop unconventional gas resources in this area will be met with strong, organised and united community opposition.  

We urge you to withdraw your investment support for Norwest Energy and instead invest in industries which do not cause pollution and which can demonstrate the support of the local communities that they operate in.  

Signed by 275 residents from
Cervantes, Green Head, Leeman, Jurien Bay, Wedge Island and Hill River

Video: Fire in Karloo

This video footage was sent in to Everything Geraldton. 

It shows a fire burning on the corner of Abraham St and Assen St in Karloo, Geraldton. 

This comes on a day where a total fire ban was in place in the Geraldton area. 

Emergency services were alerted to the fires roughly 8:15 on Thursday evening, 11 Dec 2014.

While some local residents speculated that it was deliberately lit, we haven't yet had any official word on what caused the fire. 

 

Same location during daylight hours. Pic: Google Streetview. 

40 today with Severe fire danger - total fire ban

Severe fire danger advice for coastal parts of the Central West on Thursday
 
A Severe Fire Danger Rating has been forecast for Thursday 11 December for coastal parts of the Central West.
 
This includes:

• City of Greater Geraldton - coastal part
• Shire of Chapman Valley - coastal part
• Shire of Northampton - coastal part

Bushfires can threaten suddenly and without warning. Stay alert and watch for signs of fire, especially smoke and flames. Have your bushfire survival plan and kit ready.
 
Keep up to date with bushfire information through local radio, websites and TV. Do not wait for a warning before you act. If you see flames call triple zero.

These are very hot, dry and windy conditions for a bush or grass fire.

If a fire starts and takes hold: 

• It will be unpredictable, move very fast and difficult for firefighters to bring under control. 
• Spot fires will start and move quickly. Embers may come from many directions. 

If you live in or near bush with high fuel loads then you are at risk and need to act: 

• Read through your bushfire survival plan. If you do not have one decide what you will do if a fire starts. 
• If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving bushfire risk areas early in the day is your safest option. 
• Homes that are prepared to the highest level, have been constructed to bushfire protection levels and are actively defended may provide safety. 

You must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions. 

To find out what the Fire Danger Rating means to you visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au or call 9395 9300 during normal office hours.

Check the Fire Danger Rating for your area by visiting www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 213 (call charges apply).

A Total Fire Ban has been declared for today, 11 December, for parts of the Midwest Gascoyne.  
 
This includes:  
 
• Shire of Carnarvon 
• Shire of Shark Bay 
• City of Greater Geraldton 
• Shire of Chapman Valley 
• Shire of Northampton 

On Friday 11 December any activity that could start a fire is banned.   
 
This means: 
• You must not light or use any fires in the open air 
• All open fires for the purpose of cooking or camping are not allowed  
• Hot work such as metal work, grinding, welding, soldering, gas cutting or similar is not allowed unless you have an exemption 
• You must not undertake any other activities that may start a fire. 

If a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has not been implemented by your local government you are able to harvest or move vehicles across paddocks for agricultural purposes. 
 
You could be fined up to $25,000 or jailed for 12 months or both if you ignore the Total Fire Ban. 
 
For information on activities that can or cannot be carried out during a Total Fire Ban visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans/Pages/TotalFireBanWhatCantIDo.aspx
 
If the information you want is not available from the website, telephone the Total Fire Ban Information Line 1800 709 355. 
 
This information is also available by visiting www.dfes.wa.gov.au

Community Nursery gets a facelift

A video posted by Everything Geraldton (@everythinggeraldton) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:35am PST

The City of Greater Geraldton’s Community Nursery has been in operation for many years but has welcomed a new relocation to Adelaide Street, Waggrakine, along with some much needed upgrades.  

With the goal of the Nursery to grow local provenance native plants for revegetation of our natural bushland environment, over the last three months the nursery has received a considerable facelift thanks to the Section 95 prisoner team from the Greenough Regional Prison.

Boasting a wide variety of skills and enthusiasm to match, the prisoners have completed a number of projects over the last few months at the nursery, including paving, building a privacy screen and benches, painting, installing a sump, building shade houses and wicking beds, and also building and installing windows and drying racks.

City of Greater Geraldton Deputy Mayor, Neil McIlwaine, praised the prisoners for their hard work on the nursery upgrade.

“It was great to see the prisoners putting their skills to such good use and watch the Community Nursery grow and change over the last few months,” he said.

“It’s been a real team effort and we’re very proud of all of the hard work that everyone has put into upgrading the Community Nursery.”

To assist the prisoners to gain extra skills, some of the work has been carried out in conjunction with training that the prisoners received through Durack Institute of Technology’s eleven week industrial skills program.

Coordinated by the City’s Natural Areas Officer, all of the planting is carried out by a team of energetic local community volunteers who meet on a weekly basis. 

In January the nursery will swing into action to begin propagation of this year’s native plants and the nursery provides a warm welcome to new community volunteers who would like to be involved.

For more information about how you can become a volunteer with the Community Nursery, visit the City website at www.cgg.wa.gov.au

Video - Blues for the Bush 2014

Blues for the Bush was held at Charles Darwin Reserve in Perenjori in October. This wonderful video prepared by Cineport gives you a great feel for what it was like.

www.bluesforthebush.org.au

SMALL GRANTS MAKE A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL DIFFERENCE

2014 Grants: Members of the Friends of Bluff Point and other volunteers work together to rehabilitate vegetation bordering the Chapman River Estuary.

NACC is funding nine new projects to support community to improve the region’s unique coastal environment between Geraldton and Guilderton.

More than $40 000 has been awarded through this coastal grants round. Successful applicants are the Moore Catchments Council, Seabird Caravan Park Committee, Sunset Beach Community Group, City of Greater Geraldton, Friends of Bluff Point, Dongara’s Tidy Towns Sustainable Committee and Ledge Point Coastcare, Shire of Gingin and Friends of Lancelin Coast.

2014 Grants: Interpretive signage funded through NACC’s Coastal Devolved Grant Program.

The projects focus on the rehabilitation of degraded coastal sites, enhancing community skills and knowledge and local seed propagation techniques.

According to NACC’s Coastal Program Coordinator Dr Mic Payne, “Our coast is a valuable and unique environment under pressure from increased recreational use, urban development and a changing climate. These grants provide resources to local organisations who are working to improve the management of our coast”.

Grant recipient Jan Richards from Ledge Point Coastcare said “We have had many requests from local community members who missed out on our last seed propagation workshop so this grant will allow us to run a second workshop to meet this demand. We feel it is very important to use local provenance plants for our revegetation projects”.

The objectives of the projects funded are to:  Contribute to the implementation of recognised existing local and regional coastal plans and strategies;

• Increase community engagement, knowledge and skills in coastal site assessment, planning, rehabilitation,
• restoration and conservation projects; and
• Assist in the protection and maintenance of environmental values and natural assets along the coast.

The grants link back to key Australian Government Natural Resource Management targets and are designed to be flexible to meet the needs of the community. The successful completion of projects will continue to improve the management of our coast, continue to build community capacity into the future and complement the good work that has been achieved through previous grant rounds.

Bushfire warning for Eneabba, Brand Closed

Brand Highway closed between Eneabba and north to the Indian Ocean Drive turn off. 

The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Time of issue: 12.20pm

Date of issue: 26 November 2014 

Bushfire ADVICE for Eneabba, and the 30 kilometres north of the town, in the Shires of Carnamah and Irwin

ALERT LEVEL:

A bushfire ADVICE has been issued for people in Eneabba, and the 30 kilometres north of the town, in the Shires of Carnamah and Irwin.

The alert level for this fire has been downgraded.

There is no threat to lives or homes but there is a lot of smoke in the area.

A wind shift is pushing the fire away from the town.

Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.

There is fire burning on both sides of Brand Highway, near Eneabba and for the 30 kilometres north of the town. 

BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR:

The bushfire is moving in a south westerly direction.

It is out of control and unpredictable.

WHAT TO DO:

Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.

Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.

Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.

Read through your bushfire survival plan.

If you do not have a plan decide what you will do if the situation gets worse.

WHAT TO DO:

Be extremely careful when driving through the area.

Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.

Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

If you cannot see clearly, pull over, keep your headlights and hazard lights on, and wait until the smoke clears.

If you have a respiratory condition and you have been affected by smoke you should contact your local doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222. 

ROAD CLOSURES:

Avoid the area and be aware of fire and other emergency services personnel working on site.

A number of roads have been closed including:

Brand Highway, between Eneabba and the Indian Ocean Drive turn off.  

WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING:

Firefighters are on the scene working to build containment lines. 

Aerial support has been sent to assist ground crews.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

The incident was reported this morning. 

The cause of the fire is lightning .

The Shire of Irwin is managing the fire.

KEEP UP TO DATE:

Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa or listen to news bulletins.

The next update will be provided by 4pm today unless the situation changes.

Bushfire still out of control - Brand Highway near Seven Mile Road

Bushfire ADVICE for Brand Highway near Seven Mile Road, 10 kilometres north of Dongara in the Shire of Irwin
 
ALERT LEVEL:

A bushfire ADVICE has been issued for people travelling near Seven Mile Road, 10 kilometres north of Dongara in the Shire of Irwin.

• You need to be aware and keep up to date.
• There is no threat to lives or homes but there is a lot of smoke in the area.
• Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
• The fire is burning in thick scrub north of Seven Mile Road.
• It is burning slowly in a southerly direction.
• It is out of control and unpredictable.

WHAT TO DO:

• Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
• Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
• Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
• Read through your bushfire survival plan.
• If you do not have a plan decide what you will do if the situation gets worse.

ROAD CLOSURES:

Seven Mile Road is closed.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. 
 
WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING:

• Firefighters are monitoring the fire.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

• The cause of the fire is lightning.
• The Shire of Irwin is managing the fire.

  KEEP UP TO DATE:
  Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa or listen to news bulletins.
   
  Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Small earthquake South of Geraldton

There was a very small earthquake yesterday South of Geraldton. 

It was only a magnitude 2.5, full details at this link: http://www.ga.gov.au/earthquakes/getQuakeDetails.do?quakeId=3604901&orid=1086343&sta=N/A

S of Geraldton, WA. 
Magnitude: 2.5 (ML) 
Depth: 10 km 
Tsunamigenic: Not available

Date and Time 
UTC: 24 November 2014 @ 01:22:44 
Sydney Time: 24 November 2014 @ 12:22:44 (AEDT) 

Location 
Coordinates: -29.056, 114.577 

Total Fire Ban for Geraldton and parts of the Midwest Gascoyne today

Total Fire Ban for parts of the Midwest Gascoyne today

Tuesday 25 November 2014 - 12:00 AM

Total Fire Ban has been declared for parts of the Midwest Gascoyne today. 

This includes: 
• Greater Geraldton
• Chapman Valley
• Mingenew
• Morawa
• Northampton

Today, Tuesday 25 November 2014 any activity that could start a fire is banned. 

This means: 
• You must not light or use any fires in the open air 
• All open fires for the purpose of cooking or camping are not allowed 
• Hot work such as metal work, grinding, welding, soldering, gas cutting or similar is not allowed unless you have an exemption 
• You must not undertake any other activities that may start a fire. 

If a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has not been implemented by your local government you are able to harvest or move vehicles across paddocks for agricultural purposes. 

You could be fined up to $25,000 or jailed for 12 months or both if you ignore the Total Fire Ban. 

For information on activities that can or cannot be carried out during a Total Fire Ban visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans/Pages/TotalFireBanWhatCantIDo.aspx

If the information you want is not available from the website, telephone the Total Fire Ban Information Line 1800 709 355. 

This information is also available by visiting www.dfes.wa.gov.au

Images of Dongara fire

Emergency services were busy in Dongara today fighting a fire that was near homes in the Springfield area. 

Thanks Bec for the images.  

Weed Management Commenced to Protect Dune Systems in Jurien Bay

Pink dye marks where Pyp Grass has been sprayed with herbicide.

Over the coming weeks some vegetation areas around the town of Jurien Bay will be dyed pink. The pink dye indicates where spraying of Pyp Grass (Ehrharta villosa) has commenced to eradicate this invasive weed from the Jurien Bay township.

Pyp Grass is an aggressive invasive weed that is known to smother and replace important native vegetation species that naturally occur within dune systems.

Dr Mic Payne, NACC’s Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator explained that dunes infested with Pyp Grass are more susceptible to erosion caused by wind, waves and unmanaged visitor access.

“Jurien Bay’s beaches, coastal infrastructure and tourism all rely on healthy dunes protected by native vegetation,” said Dr Payne.

Contractors spraying Pyp Grass at the infestation site at Shingle Avenue.

The current Pyp Grass eradication work is part of the Jurien Bay Pyp Grass Management Plan, development of which involved members of the local Jurien Bay Herbarium Group. Group members assisted in surveying vegetation present in Pyp Grass infested areas and monitoring the success of treatment for future management actions.

NACC encourages the community to assist in managing Pyp Grass by keeping an eye out for further infestations.

To get a copy of the Jurien Bay Pyp Grass Management Plan or to get involved in the project please contact Dr Mic Payne on 9938 0123 or Michael.Payne@nacc.com.au

This project is supported by NACC, through funding from the Australian Government.

GERALDTON RESIDENTS ANSWER THE BEACH CLEAN UP CALL

Participants gathered to hear instructions before heading out to collect rubbish.

Proving that Geraldton residents love their beaches, more than 100 people showed up to take part in Geraldton’s Massive Beach Clean Up last Sunday. The Geraldton-wide beach clean-up complemented the 10th anniversary of the West Australian Beach Clean Up conducted by the Tangaroa Blue Foundation.

Tangaroa Blue Foundation continue to collect and collate data on the rubbish washing up on our beaches every day. The information collected helps identify the sources of environmental contamination, assisting development of innovations to reduce future impacts.

Sorting in action!

Although Geraldton Coast Care Groups are no stranger to annual beach clean-ups, having conducted smaller scale clean ups for over a decade, it was decided Geraldton was ready for a larger city-wide event.

On Sunday, many Geraldton locals joined forces to be a part of Geraldton’s Massive Beach Clean Up, organised by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) and the City of Greater Geraldton (CGG). Locals gathered on the foreshore to register before heading out to their favourite beaches between Drummonds Cove and Cape Burney, with collection bags in hand.

Participants then returned to the foreshore to enjoy a BBQ lunch and live music from local artist Daron Keogh whilst they sorted through their bags and recorded their findings.

Some unusual items returned to the sorting stations, including a discarded microwave, pieces of bed head and a car jack.

Dr Mic Payne, Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator at NACC said, “it was a fantastic turn out with over 93 people registering on the day, and 260kg of rubbish collected over 14 kilometres of coastline.”

“All of which would not have been possible without huge contributions from the rest of the project partners: Drummond Cove Progress Association, Point Moore Coastcare, Sunset Beach Coastcare, the Department of Fisheries and the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute. In addition, Apex Australia, Culinary HQ, Lattitude 28 and the Water Corporation all donated prizes or equipment for the event,” said Dr Payne.

As a result of the amazing response from the public, NACC and the CGG hopes to continue this event in the future with plans to make it bigger and better next year.

Revival of an edible local nut

In Western Australia we have a new story that is very old. It concerns the use of WA Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum). Before European settlers arrived in Western Australia the indigenous people used the sandalwood fruit and nuts extensively for food and medicine. In the 1800s the settlers exported the stems and roots of S.Spicatum to India and China for their ceremonial use. In the late 1800s in WA the value of the export of this sandalwood oil and wood exceeded that of all other exports.  To a small extent this kind of export continues. 

However the development of S.Spicatum ‘orchards by Connie and Marty Winch-Buist on their 40 hectare property east of York at Greenhills in Western Australia is reviving the indigenous food culture of these nuts.

The Sandalwood tree requires host trees for healthy growth; these hosts provide extra water and nutrients to the sandalwood.

For Connie and Marty their journey with the sandalwood tree began after buying their property in 2005 and establishing their initial planting of 2 hectares of host trees in 2007. In 2008 they planted their first sandalwood seeds and with other plantings they now have 10 hectares of WA Sandalwood on their 40 hectare property. In 2011 Marty and Connie decided to commence their new nut journey to confirm that WA Sandalwood nuts can be used in the domestic food market. After many trials and cooking processes they established their WA Sandalwood Nut food business. They now grow, harvest, process, package and sell a range of Sandalwood nut food products.  Among the products so far developed are the roasted nuts, a dukkah and a chocolate covered nut.

During their journey they learnt about the Woylie (Brush Tailed Bettong) and the importance of the Woylie to the historic distribution of the native Sandalwood tree. The Woylies would scatter and hoard nuts like squirrels, burying them and forgetting about them, so that the seeds germinated and the trees regenerated naturally. The Woylie is listed as a critically endangered native animal and there is a captive breeding program at Kanyana where Connie and Marty are donating their Sandalwood nuts.

Nuts forming

Train loaded with Sandalwood on Railway Jetty - Geraldton - 1920's

Geraldton Biodiversity survey to provide incentive for native bushland recovery

City of Greater Geraldton staff engaged in Chapman River revegetation on CGG corporate tree planting day.

THE City of Greater Geraldton is currently running the Biodiversity Conservation Incentives Strategy survey to get feedback from landholders on what they would like in the form of incentives to assist them with managing native vegetation on their land.

Geraldton is right in the middle of an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot (of which there are only 34 worldwide) and is under threat from invasive weeds, feral animals, off-road vehicles and development.

With only 18% of its original vegetation left it is in a critical state when what is really needed for biodiversity conservation is for this to be 30%, for vegetation communities to be viable.

Last year the council for the City of Greater Geraldton endorsed a biodiversity strategy.

The strategy outlines the value of biodiversity and using detailed spatial and policy analysis and suggested a prioritised list of natural areas for conservation action and a comprehensive set of recommendations for mechanisms to achieve the vision for local natural areas.

Robyn Nicholas, Senior Environmental and Sustainability Officer at City Of Greater Geraldton says, “Once we’ve got feedback from the landholders a consultant will then write up a strategy incorporating those incentives”.

“The incentives could be anything from getting advice from native vegetation specialists, or it may be fencing or weed removal, it’s really up to the landholders to come up with what would be best”.

“This is all subject to funding but if we can get hold of some funds we want to know what landholders would most want to do”.

The survey was put out last week on CGG’s new online platform ‘Your City Your Say’ and they are advertising this with a display at the library and by trying to develop media interest.

“We are not wanting to tell people how to manage their bush, we’re just trying to support them and we know there are lots of people out there doing great stuff but there may be other things that could be done to enhance bushland areas”, says Ms Nicholas.

The city is seeking submissions from residents with properties on land between Coronation Beach and Greenough and east towards Mullewa.

 “We are hoping to wrap up the survey in another couple of weeks and then we’ll get a consultant to write up the results”.

This is a real opportunity for private landholders in Geraldton to give feedback with regards to how they’d like support in managing their native bush.

http://www.yourcityyoursay.cgg.wa.gov.au/survey-biodiversity-conservation-incentives-strategy-for-private-landholders

http://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/services/environmental-sustainability/biodiversity-conservation

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