Bay OK is the
positive message for Busselton
 Kate Scott, Sally Clifton-Parks, Kath Lynch and Jen
Mitchell
Dark clouds
and a sprinkling of rain were not enough to dampen the mood of
those who attended the Busselton event held last week to release
the final Vasse Wonnerup Water Quality Improvement Plan with
details of the first stage of its implementation - and the launch
of a community awareness program – Bay OK.
About 50 people
attended - including politicians, department staff, local
government and community groups, GeoCatch members and local
stakeholders.
The setting on
Geographe Bay’s foreshore was a fitting location for the event
organised by Busselton District Manager Kath Lynch and Busselton
colleagues, showcasing one of the main reasons the South West
region wants to protect the bay.
South West Regional
Manager Wayne Tingey declared the event a great success.
“It just wouldn’t
have been possible without the hard work of Busselton staff and in
particular the work of Kath Lynch,” Wayne said.
“Not only has
Kath and the regional team done such a fantastic job - they are now
stretching to develop a targeted water quality improvement plan for
both Hardy Inlet and Leschenault Estuary.
“Meanwhile, the
idea of the Bay OK program was born in a moment of clarity to
describe simply the multi facetted approach to water quality issues
we have in the Geographe Catchment.
“Simple in name -
but not simple in reality.”
Wayne told guests
that Geographe Bay supported the largest temperate seagrass meadows
in Western Australia, which provided important habitat and nursery
grounds for an array of marine life - including popular fishing
species of King George Whiting and southern calamari squid.
It also played host to 13 species of whale and over 150 species of
finfish.
He warned that the
high ecological values were under threat from nutrient runoff from
the catchment from vegetation clearing, agriculture and increasing
urbanisation.
“The final
WQIP plan represents a culmination of three years of cooperative
Government effort to provide a strategic approach to manage and
reduce nutrients entering the Geographe Bay coastal hotspot,”
he said.
“The department
has also been working in partnership with GeoCatch, the Shires of
Capel and Busselton, and the local Geographe community over the
past two decades to improve water quality in the catchment. The
department - in partnership with GeoCatch will deliver the project
with other integral partners including Western Dairy, South West
catchments Council, the Department of Environment and Conservation
and the Busselton Shire.”
Wayne said that
through the development of the plan, understanding and management
of water quality issues had moved to a new level. Based on the best
available science and knowledge, the plan identified the main
sources of nutrients from the catchment, and through a
sophisticated cost benefit analysis, the best management actions to
reduce nutrients.
He said that
partnerships between state and local governments and the community
would now be critical to achieve the ambitious water quality
targets outlined in the plan.
“A 20 per cent
reduction in total phosphorus and 30 per cent reduction in nitrogen
over the next ten years is predicted to be required if we want to
continue to enjoy the clarity and clear waters of Geographe
Bay.
“Faced with the
prediction of increasing urban expansion, and increased nutrient
loads from urban areas, these targets will become more difficult to
achieve and more critical to do so.”
Implementation of
stage one of the Vasse Wonnerup Geographe Bay Water Quality
Improvement Plan will begin with support from state government
natural resource management funding of $1.25 million.The project
will undertake on - ground works in both the rural and urban areas
to reduce nutrients.
The plan can
be downloaded here:
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/92284.pdf
Local Member for
South West Region Hon. Barry House MLC launched the Bay
OK program amid much merriment over the cutting of the very
colourful cake featuring the new Bay OK logo.
The cake - enjoyed by
all - was not only cut by the Hon. Barry House, but also the Hon.
Troy Buswell
The Bay OK logo
features the blue manna crab and a life saving ring. The crab is
genetically unique to Geographe Bay.
“If we were to
lose this species from the bay, we would be to lose this species
from the world. The life saving ring is a symbol that the blue
manna crab and all the other values of the Bay need our help,”
said Kath Lynch\
The Bay OK photo
competition “Values of the Bay” was a great success with over 50
entries, with winners Ian Wiese (Open) and Taylah McRay (Junior)
receiving Naturaliste Charters whale watching vouchers. Prizes were
presented by Director of Regional Management and Water Information
Liz Western.
Wayne Tingey welcoming guests |
Liz Western presents awards |
Hon. Barry House and Hon. Troy Buswell cutting the delicious
chocolate mudcake |
Wayne Tingey addresses guests gathered in the marquee as rain
approached |
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