Notice Board

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WAS HELD ON FRIDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2010

Tuckey Room (City of Mandurah Offices)

Guest Speaker - John Gabrielson from City of Mandurah

For notes on recent lecture by Kingsley Dixon speaking on “Climate Change – the potential for disaster and what we can do about it” go to the Ongoing Issues page and see also our publication The Preservation Times in its new printed form (Thanks to Mandurah City Council).

The Preservation Times

ARE YOU A MEMBER? ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE A QUARTERLY COPY OF THE PRESERVATION TIMES.

This website shares many of its news items and articles with the PPG magazine, The Preservation Times. Contributions from interested people are always welcome. They may be in the form of emails, letters addressed to our office.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions please let us know. NB the source of emails is not published on this site unless requested.

Notes from recent PPG meeting

The Mandurah Entrance Road is nearing completion. Members were disappointed about the extent of clearing for this road (especially through Marlee Reserve)and the extent of "Legacy" projects to compensate for this. It is hoped that the time will heal the scars!

Submissions & Letters

We have written alerting our newly elected Federal Minister for the Environment of our concerns about proposed developments near Lake clifton, which will place demands on the freshwater lens in the area. This in turn, places the Thrombolites at risk.

Lake Clifton has been classified as a "Threatened Ecological Community' status (see http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc) and click on "Lake Clifton". PPG also wrote a submission in agreement of this classification, which will give the area greater protection.

Dawesville to Binningup Coastline - The EPA has undertaken a review to clarify the environmental values of the region and the state of current knowledge and scientific data about these values. This information (Bulletin Report No. 1359)has identified additional areas of conservation significance (for example areas adjacent to the Peel-Yalgorup National Park), and areas that may have potential for development and land use that are compatible with the environmental values.

Work is continuing on a Grant Application to have a bird hide built at Lake McLarty. We hope to obtain funding for a ground level bird hide with wheelchair access and a raised viewing platform. This option was chosen so that the hide would be built on the sand ridge near the water tank rather than nearer to the lake where Acid Suplhate Soil may be present.

Lotterywest

Lotterywest granted funds to update the PPG book "The Birds of Goegrup and Black Lakes". Dick Rule and his team have completed counting sessions and a flora survey has been performed. The final editing is underway ready for printing. We are pleased to have been able to produce a second updated edition of this book. The updated information will contribute to a growing data base of birds in the region.

Our AGM is planned for early November 2010. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

WWF-Australia expands Southwest Australia Wetland Program into the Peel

WWF-Australia is looking for private landholders in the Peel region, who are interested in long-term conservation of the natural environment on their properties, for involvement in the newly funded Wetland Watch – Peel Harvey project.

The project will work collaboratively with property owners to protect the unique and spectacular biodiversity of this nationally listed coastal hotspot. Private landowners who become involved with the project will gain access to a series of training workshops, free site assessments, property surveys and management plans and assistance to apply for funding for on-ground works such as weed control, revegetation and habitat protection.

The Peel Harvey program will build on the successful Wetland Watch project that WWF has delivered in the Perth NRM region over the past 4 years. This new project will target private landowners of high conservation value bushland around the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary areas as well as landholders surrounding Lake Clifton. “During our four years in the Swan region we worked closely with over 50 landholders on bushland property management issues including weed control, dieback, revegetation and fire management,” said Project Coordinator Brett Brenchley. “We look forward to continuing this type of work in the Peel Harvey region and have received an encouraging amount of interest from the community already.”

WWF-Australia will partner with local organisations including the City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray, Peel Harvey Catchment Council and the Peel Preservation Group. If you have a property with remnant bushland on it, particularly with wetland areas, and would like some assistance in regards to its management then contact:

Brett Brenchley, Wetland Watch Project Coordinator WWF-Australia,

ph: 9387 6444 mob: 0406 383 080 email: bbrenchley@wwf.org.au