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 |
Wayne Tingey addresses guests gathered in the
marquee as rain approached |
Hon. Barry House and Hon. Troy Buswell cutting
the delicious chocolate mudcake |
|
