Bussleton’s Vasse-Wonnerup wetlands provide the most significant breeding habitat for black swans in Western Australia, and regularly supports over 20,000 waterbirds. One of the major threats facing these important wetlands is excess nutrient run-off from surrounding households and farms.
With funding from the National Landcare Program , South West Catchments Council (SWCC) worked with GeoCatch on a 15-month behaviour change program called ‘Garden Guardians of the Bay’, featuring local residents as ‘superheroes’ of the much-loved Geographe Bay.
Through gardening workshops, social and traditional media articles and advertisements, web promotion and shopping centre displays, the campaign aimed to change the gardening behaviour of local residents.
The campaign promoted growing native species, adding clay to improve sandy soils, applying soil wetter to lawns and gardens, using coarse chunky mulch in gardens, using only composted manures and swapping traditional fertilisers with slow release versions.
A post-campaign survey of over 180 residents found that 56% of respondents were aware of the program, with 35% having changed their gardening behaviour to align with campaign messages and 33% already doing them.
These positive results will be used to continue educating local gardeners on best practice gardening in the Geographe Catchment. It is anticipated that the adoption of these positive gardening actions will have ongoing measurable improvements in the water quality entering Geographe Bay.
This project is delivered by GeoCatch, and co-funded by Healthy Estuaries WA and Revitalising Geographe Waterways. These State Government initiatives aim to support the long-term health of south-west estuaries.
