There was a full bus for the Flood protection in Busselton bus tour held recently, as 57 community members witnessed firsthand the complexity of the local drainage network. The tour was organised in response to community concerns over flood risk during winter, visiting the Sabina River detention basin, Vasse Diversion Drain culverts, Vasse surge barrier...Continue Reading
$900,000 across four projects to fast-track water quality improvements in Geographe waterways Four new projects funded through Healthy Estuaries WA program Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced the McGowan Government would be providing $900,000 in funding for four new projects that will fast track water quality improvements in key waterways across the Geographe catchment. The...Continue Reading
Two new fish studies by Murdoch University are providing insight into fish species living in the Vasse and Wonnerup estuaries near Busselton. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the Department), on behalf of the Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands Partnership, commissioned Murdoch University to undertake the two research projects. The first study focused on Black Bream...Continue Reading
Wednesday, 11 August 2021 Healthy Estuaries WA program partners with local dairy farmers to help protect Geographe Catchment Upgrades to dairy farm effluent systems to reduce nutrients entering Geographe waterways Dairy industry releases new Code of Practice for on-farm effluent management New code provides technical advice to help farmers improve effluent management Recent fit-for-purpose upgrades...Continue Reading
It’s often said that there are no simple solutions to improving water quality in Geographe waterways, however results from research being carried out on farms in Yoongarillup (near Busselton) and Keysbrook (Peel) are showing impressive results on reducing phosphorus loss off farms. The research is trialling applications of soil amendment products which bind phosphorus, keeping...Continue Reading
Geographe Bay seagrass meadows are in overall healthy condition according to a report released this week by GeoCatch. The report summarises 10 years of data collected by scientists as part of the ‘Keep Watch’ seagrass monitoring program. Each summer, scientists from Edith Cowan University join divers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to...Continue Reading
A new group-learning program for beef and sheep farmers has been well received in the south west, with seven Geographe farming businesses signing up to improve their grazing management and business performance as part of the Grazer Matcher program. Farmers that completed the 12-month program have been reporting great progress and currently there are four...Continue Reading
Hours of time, money and careful planning by farmers in the Geographe Bay Catchment to upgrade their dairy effluent systems has them on the front foot to manage dairy effluent this winter and into the future. Ten dairy farmers took up the opportunity for funding incentives to upgrade their systems and have an effluent plan...Continue Reading
Seven Geographe farm businesses are increasing their knowledge and application of grazing best practice by participating in the Grazer Matcher program. Grazing Matcher aims to improve productivity and profits for farmers and minimise impacts to the environment by supporting farmers to adopt best practice grazing management across their sheep and beef farms. This includes implementing...Continue Reading
GeoCatch hosted a community forum at the Geographe Bay Yacht Club in June to help inform the crowd of around 45 attendees about the progress and challenges of managing water quality in Busselton’s Vasse Wonnerup wetlands and Lower Vasse River. Scientists from the Departments of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), and Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions...Continue Reading
