Community learn about the Vasse Surge Barrier
Around 20 community members have taken the opportunity to hear from managers of the Vasse Wonnerup wetlands on how the surge barriers operate and are managed. GeoCatch hosted the event at the Vasse surge barrier in response to community members asking how the surge barriers worked and how management decisions are made. The surge barriers […]
Dairy farmers benchmarked against new code of practice
The latest review of dairy effluent management on South West farms by Western Dairy has shown considerable improvement in the areas of storing and reusing effluent since the last review in 2016. The review provided the opportunity to revisit benchmarking of effluent management across Healthy Estuaries WA catchments following upgrade work completed under the Dairycare […]
Citizen science helps understand possums in backyards
Busselton and Dunsborough residents have turned their torches to the trees for the 2022 Western Ringtail Possum Tally. An increase in participation by residents in the annual Ringtail Tally has helped improve the understanding of western ringtail possum habitat in urban backyards and public open space. In its 7th consecutive year, the Tally builds a […]
Nutrient best management practices guideline Guidance For beef, sheep and dairy grazing enterprises in south-west Western Australia
New guidelines to assist farmers and reduce environmental impacts Best practice guidelines to assist South-West grazing farmers with on-farm management of nutrients New guidelines will help farmers maximise stock productivity, while reducing nutrient runoff and environmental impacts on our local waterways Guidelines part of the McGowan Government’s $25 million Healthy Estuaries WA and Revitalising Geographe […]
July Grazing Matcher farmer meeting
The sun was out for the July Grazing Matcher meeting at the Payne Farm in Metricup last week. A healthy discussion on the influence of soil type and residual phosphorus in south-west soils was led by Joel Hall, from Department of Water & Environmental Regulation. The group had lots of interesting questions about how fertilising can […]
New trials to provide insights for best practice soil management on sandy soils
Two new trial sites on dairy farms in the Vasse and Scott River catchments have been launched to demonstrate how top-dressing applications of Iron Man Gypsum (IMG) can keep phosphorus on farms where it is needed, instead of being washed into our estuaries where it can cause algal blooms and water quality issues. IMG is made up […]
Ringtail Tally a Success
GeoCatch has completed the 2022 Western Ringtail Possum Tally, with citizen scientists reporting possum sightings in their gardens and backyards across Busselton and Dunsborough over four weeks. The annual tally aims to improve knowledge and awareness of critically endangered western ringtail possums living in urban areas. The results are shared across the wider community and […]
Residents learn gardening tips to protect water quality
If you have ever tried growing a fruit tree in Western Australia, you will know that sandy soils can make establishing plants a complex task. Western Australia contains a range of sandy soil types that can each present their own unique challenges, especially in the Geographe Catchment where we are gardening on what is actually […]
New uPtake trial to assess alternative phosphorus product
A new trial in the Peel-Harvey catchment is examining if the use of low water-soluble phosphorus fertiliser can improve pasture growth, while reducing nutrient loss to local waterways. The trial is a part of the four year uPtake project, delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Department of Water […]
Weed escapees addressed in new partnership
GeoCatch and the City of Busselton are on a mission to reduce woody weeds around Meelup Regional Park and nearby reserves by supporting landholders to control weeds on their own properties. The Bushland Connections project will provide incentives for peri-urban landholders to remove weeds and plant native species, with the aim of reducing weed ‘escapees’ […]
