WICC Projects
Implementation of Riparian Restoration, Erosion Control and Nutrient Management in Priority Waterways
 Fenced waterway creek running into Scotsdale Brook |
Over the period July 2010 - July 2011 Department of Water provided WICC with funds to facilitate the restoration of priority waterways in the lower Wilson Inlet Catchment. These funds were from the State Government project "Strategic Tree Planting and Fencing along Creeks and Rivers". Rivers and Creeklines targeted were; Denmark River drinking water source area and lower reaches, lower Hay River, Little River, Scotsdale Brook, Sleeman River and Cuppup Creek
In total $110,550 was allocated to WICC of which $76,933 was spent on on-ground works including; weed control, fencing waterways and revegetating degraded waterways. The funding was based on 50:50 contributions and including land owner contributions (materials and in-kind) the over all amount spent on ground equaled $153,866.
To achieve all the works within the short timeline given was a fantastic effort by all people involved. WICC would like to acknowledge the enthusiastic support and efforts made by the land owners, without whom none of these projects would go ahead.
It is pleasing to see from these and previous funded works that there are now significant stretches of rivers and creeklines within the Wilson Inlet fenced, with adjoining landowners working towards maintaining and improving waterway health.
Below is a summary of the work achieved within just one year!
| Activity | Overall achieved |
| Fencing waterways | 19.6km |
| weed control | 41 Ha |
| Waterways revegetation | 13.5 Ha |
For more photographs of some of the works please go to the Photo Gallery.
Wilson Inlet Foreshore Flora Survey
The Wilson Inlet foreshore vegetation survey is one of numerous parameters being monitored to
analyse the effect, if any, that the timing of bar openings is having on the surrounding environment
and local community.
 Nullaki Gate transect site looking along the Wilson Inlet foreshore |
The Wilson Inlet is by nature a fluctuating system, with the foreshore vegetation in a zone of transition
in which death and recruitment of certain flora species is an annual occurrence. The question is
whether or not the timing of the bar opening is creating water levels and periods of inundation of such
extremes that the fringing vegetation is being stressed past their tolerance levels.
The period of inundation for foreshore vegetation of the Wilson Inlet has been relatively consistent in
the past, until recent history, with the bar opened artificially every year until 2007. The bar was not
opened in 2007 and 2010 which has increased the length of time and height of water inundation in
those given years. The effects, if any, on the fringing native vegetation in the past have not been
regularly monitored.
The aim of this survey was to monitor water level, flora species; diversity, abundance (or percentage cover),
structure and bushland condition of vegetation along the Wilson Inlet foreshore to be used as a measure of
one of the key parameters for determining the effects if any, of the bar opening timing and placement on the
Wilson Inlet environment. This survey intends to provide the first year of baseline data to allow future
monitoring comparisons.
A copy of the report [724Kb PDF]can be downloaded from this site.
Invasive Species Survey of the Hay River
Through October 2010 - June 2011 a survey and report on invasive weed species along the length of the Hay River was conducted by WICC officers. This project was funded through South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc. from the State Government's Natural Resource Management funding program.
The aim of the project was to establish a clear understanding of the health along the Hay River riparian zone by undertaking a survey to determine the extent and distribution of weeds along the system. The survey will be used for future prioritisation of works which will assist in alleviating the ongoing pressures that invasive species constantly place on the economic, environmental, social and cultural values of the South Coast Region.
A copy of the report [1.4Mb PDF]can be downloaded from this site.
 Example of healthy foreshore vegetation in the
Lower Hay River |
|
 Blackberry invasion along mid section of
the Hay River |
Upper Hay Strategic Catchment
This project began in 2006 with community consultation and technical analysis of the feasibility of the plan to contain salinity in the Upper Hay sub catchment. The Upper Hay Catchment Plan is a community developed action plan that compliments the WINRAP by providing the strategic direction for implementation and coordination of activities that will contain salinity and improve the health of the catchment landscape and water quality of the Wilson Inlet, its waterways and associated wetlands.
This catchment plan represents only one step in a longer term vision for the catchment. Key areas will be tackled to give landholders an accelerated start for implementation of works to tackle nutrient, salinity, soil and biodiversity issues. This plan will establish participative R&D sites to look at key soil health and nutrient management issues with a view to driving practice change. It will also develop long term farm business plans that will be fully costed and based on the latest soil, hydrological and nutrient management information. The aim is to have a long term plan that can be implemented by the landholder over a realistic time frame.
In summary the total works that are proposed are spread over approximately 45,000 ha. The total proposed works are shown in the table below. All these actions will compliment the 466 ha of native revegetation and 8923 ha of existing farm forestry in the Upper Hay subcatchment.
Over $993,000 of funding has been received to implement the project until Oct 2009. Of this funding over $829,000 has been spent on on-ground works as shown below.
On ground work
|
Existing
|
Proposed
|
Completed
as of Oct 2009
|
Combined total
|
| Remnant & riparian vegetation fencing | 182km | 160km | 148.6km | 330.6km |
| Revegetation | 466 ha | 130ha | 117.5ha | 583.5ha |
| Deep rooted perennials | 1273ha | 3461ha | 3191.2ha | 4464.2ha |
| Phase farming | 100ha | 150ha | TBC | 250ha |
| Farm forestry (private) | 923ha | 125ha | TBC | 1048ha |
| Farm forestry (corporate) | 8000ha |
| TBC | 8000ha |
| Earthworks | 170km | 50km | 47.8km | 217.8km |
| Areas treated with lime/dolomite | 4458ha | 3000ha | 1675.2ha | 6133.2ha |
| Soil tests |
| 84 | 66 | 66 |
| Alternate water points |
| 42 | 45 | 45 |
| Stock crossing |
| 42 | 47 | 47 |
A copy of the Upper Hay Catchment Plan is available on the reports/downloads page [Web pages or PDF (3.2Mb)]
Wilson Inlet Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
From July 2005 to Oct 2009 WICC will receive over $910,000 from South Coast NRM Inc to implement the actions identified in the Wilson Inlet Nutrient Reduction Action Plan. The Action plan has been identified as a key target in the Regional Strategy (WINRAP). This funding will enable the continuation of the projects from the previous NAP project but with the scope of being able to achieve more on ground works with the substantial funding.
The WINRAP Project (as of Oct 2009) that has engaged over 100 Landholders who have:
| Activity | Overall achieved | Project output target | % achieved |
| Fencing priority waterways | 55.4 km | 60 km | 92% |
| Fencing waterways | 67.15 km | 78 km | 86% |
| Associated stock crossing | 62 | 65 | 95% |
| Alternate water points | 56 | 53 | 105% |
| Fencing remnant vegetation | 23.55 km | 27 km | 87% |
| Perennial pasture establishment | 551.5 ha | 551 ha | 100% |
| Flood plain revegetation | 46.4 ha | 60 ha | 77% |
| Waterways revegetation | 65.1 ha | 75 ha | 87% |
| Soil testing | 160 kits | 158 kits | 101% |
For more detail please read the Wilson Inlet Nutrient Reduction Action Plan
Waterway Protection and Restoration
One of WICC's newest projects, the Waterway Protection and Restoration project was implemented in October 2009. This project has an overall budget of $180,300, with Lotterywest as the major contributor to the funds. The aim of the project is to protect and restore riparian vegetation in the Wilson Inlet Catchment to improve the quality of the water entering the inlet by erecting fencing to exclude stock and revegetating degraded areas.
Works within this project will focus on the lower catchment and include erecting fencing to exclude stock; revegetation with local native plants; and the establishment of deep rooted perennial pastures, with the aim of protecting and restoring riparian vegetation in the catchment to improve the quality of the water entering the Wilson Inlet. The project will also promote activities to increase landowners awareness of effective nutrient management through soil testing and a nutrient management workshop. The establishment of deep rooted perennial pastures will also improve the uptake of nutrients in the catchment and improve water usage reducing the recharge into the waterways.
The project will enable:
- the construction of 20km of fencing to exclude stock from waterways within the catchment.
- the construction of 8 alternate water points if the waterway was the prime source of water for the stock
- the construction of 10 stock crossings to allow the management of stock in paddocks on the other side of the waterway.
- The revegetation of 20ha of degraded waterways
- The establishment of 100ha of deep rooted perennial pasture
- 40 soil tests subsidised for landowners participating in the soil health workshop.
- Water monitoring to determine changes in the nutrient levels
Community Engagement
This project was one of
nine community engagement projects throughout the South Coast Region of Western Australia
sponsored by South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc under the Federal Government's
Caring for our Country programme with the objective to seek a greater community awareness of
natural resource issues and identify appropriate actions for best management practice. The
project has increased the understanding and involvement in resource management of the various
sectors of our community, especially those not previously engaged in this activity.
The project region was located in the Shire of Plantagenet and included the southern half of the
Stirling Ranges and northern parts of the Porongurup Range. One of the participating organisations was the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, which
has successfully engaged land owners in the project area for over 15 years. The project started
in November 2008 and concluded in September 2009.
The Final Report is available on-line.
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