Gallery

Buchanan's Drain 2010 -- Jim Jam Farm

Pictured from left George Smits, John McClelland, Julie Jones (bending) and Colin Elton

After nearly two years of negotiations with state government agencies, local Government and the landowner, Friends of Rivers, Peel, (FoRPeel) supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council have established a trial Bio Filter in Buchanan's Drain, South Yunderup.

The drain is a natural water course that was dry in summer prior to the creation of the Dawesville Cut. In the years since the Dawesville Cut opened the drain has been flooded by salt water from the Murray River during higher than average tides. This inundation of salt water has been scalding the farmers' pastures and has resulted in the death of many trees along, and in the water course. FoRPeel have built a temporary weir to stop the salt water flooding up the drain and expect the heavily saline water to be diluted over the winter period (recent testing has proven this is happening). This will assist in the recovery of existing vegetation and the establishment of new plantings. Led by FoRPeel Chairman, Colin Elton, the planting is one of the group's projects to address the problem of nutrients entering the Peel rivers via rural drainage. These nutrients contribute to the potentially toxic algal blooms in our precious water ways.

The project, which is supported by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, is part of the State Government's Filtering the Nutrient Storm Program which began in February 2010. PHCC project co-ordinator of the Filtering the Nutrient Storm Program, Juan Luis, said the aim of this particular project at Buchanan's Drain was to trial an “organic way” to retain phosphorous and nitrogen in the drain, which had seeped in from nearby paddocks “A lot of the phosphorous and nitrogen is retained in this drain”, Mr Luis said. “The trial is to see if we can enhance the capacity of the drain to retain the phosphorous and nitrogen in the catchment” Mr Elton said that FoRPeel conducts water sampling in the area once a month. Previous test results revealed there were high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous immigrating though the drain to the Murray River during the winter months. He also noted that nearby urban developments had displaced the surrounding flora & fauna and that the project was aiming to restore the natural habitat. The species recently planted in Buchanan's Drain, north of the South Yunderup Bridge were all native to the Peel Region and were donated to FoRPeel by local residents, businesses and associations too numerous to list. A total of 1790 plants consisting of Salt Water Paper Barks, Mohan, and three species of Rushes were all planted with the help of local volunteers.


May 2010

The weir was built by volunteers with help from DOW officers from the Mandurah office


May 2010

A Weir was built in the drain to stop the salt water coming back into the landscape at high tide in summer.The salt water was scalding the pasture and killing native vegetation


May 2010

The weir was built of sand bags,wrapped in a special cloth then reinforced with bricks and limestone blocks.jpg
 

Clean-up Australia Day 2010

On Sunday the 7th of March Friends of Rivers, Peel supported by 42 volunteers from Mandurah Paddlers Club, Canoe Trail Friends Mandurah and Pinjarra, Department of Water, South Yunderup Residents and Ratepayers Association and community members carried out a rubbish clean up of the Murray and Serpentine Rivers, delta and estuary islands and local road reserves and foreshores.

The amount of rubbish collected from the road reserves was less than in previous years but then it should have been given that there had been a spring clean up of the road verges in October 2009.

Drink and fast food containers continue to be over represented in the total amount of rubbish collected.

The community must ask which politician or political party has the courage to introduce Drink Container Deposit Legislation to the Parliament of Western Australia.

Will it be the Greens, former Minister for the Environment David Templeman, opposition spokesperson on the environment Dr Sally Talbot, current Minister for the Environment Donna Faragher or Murray MLA Murray Cowper?

My bet is none of the above.

The amount of tyres and other rubbish retrieved from the Murray/Serpentine Rivers is concerning given that Friends of Rivers, Peel have been conducting their clean ups of the local waterways for the past 7 years.

Items of interest recovered from the rivers were a tractor wheel and tyre, recliner lounge chair, bicycles, 3 seater lounge chair, car bonnet.

Thankfully the work done by the volunteers ensures that the community can continue to enjoy the ambience of this beautiful country that we are lucky enough to call home.

At the completion of the Clean Up the volunteers adjourned for a well earned sausage sizzle and refreshments to a park on the Murray River sponsored by ALCOA, Shire of Murray, SYRRA and local businesses

Buchanan's Drain 2009 Paterson's Farm Restoration

Community group Friends of Rivers, Peel has joined forces with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and a South Yunderup property owner to reduce the nutrient run off into the Murray River from Buchanan's Drain and enhance the habitat values of the riparian vegetation.

The lower reaches of Buchanan's Drain in the South Yunderup area is also subject to seasonal flooding by salt water from the Murray River during periods of high tide. The saline water has killed some of the native vegetation in the lower reaches and affected the property owners pasture production.

To stop the salt water invasion upstream of South Yunderup Road, a bund and riffle has been constructed and nutrient stripping sedges and rushes planted. Approximately 2kms of the drain has been fenced from livestock and more than 10,000 native trees, shrubs, sedges and rushes planted, creating a sanctuary for native fauna and assist in the stripping of nutrients from the waterway.

PHCC Rivercare Project Manager, Alex Hams said the project provides an opportunity to protect and enhance the ecological values of waterways within the South Yunderup area as well as improve the water quality entering the Murray River and Peel-Harvey Estuary.

“Having landholders and Community groups as willingly participants in this sort of project is integral to the restoration of waterways within the catchment” he said.

The involvement of community groups such as Friends of Rivers, Peel and Green Corp trainees provided much needed support for the project through planting of seedlings.

This South West Catchments Council project is partly funded by the Australian Government's initiative Caring for our Country as well as the Landholders, Shire of Murray and Friends of Rivers, Peel.

Dam thing done
Work in Progress
   

May 2009

June 2009

Alex Hames & Colin Elton

Volunteers-Planting-Buchanan's drain

 

Alex,Penny & Janet

Greg Kerr & Patricia Magennis

Margaret Smith & Patricia Moffat
   

Clean-up Australia Day 2009

 

On Sunday the 1st of March Friends of Rivers, Peel supported by volunteers from Department of Water and South Yunderup Residents and Ratepayers Association carried out a rubbish clean up of the Murray and Serpentine Rivers, delta and estuary islands and local road reserves and foreshores.

The amount of rubbish collected from the road reserves was less than in 2008 and this is a result of the reduction in new home construction in the area. However some building contractors seem to think they are above the local bylaws when it comes to litter.

On the waterways and delta islands the amount of rubbish collected is unacceptable with some areas that were cleaned as late as June 2008 littered again with empty drink containers left behind by irresponsible people.

It raises the question. Would they treat their own home the same way they treat the local environment?

The quantity of bottles, cans and other recyclable material picked up is still a major concern and it is time for the state government to stop pandering to big business and implement deposit legislation similar to what exists in South Australia.

At the completion of the Clean Up the volunteers adjourned for a well earned sausage sizzle and refreshments to a park on the Murray River sponsored by ALCOA, Shire of Murray, SYRRA and local businesses.

Cleanup team 2009

26 September 2007

Wilgie Creek North Yunderup

 

On the 26 th of September 2007 Friends of Rivers, Peel in partnership with Peel Preservation Group,
Department of Water and Pinjarra Senior High School carried out a major planting on a 300 metre section of the
southern reach of Wilgie Creek in North Yunderup.

The group planted 2000 Juncus Pallidus, 200 Juncus Kraussii Reeds and 200 Melaleuca Cuticularis.

The Juncus Kraussii were payed for by Friends of Rivers, Peel and a very generous donation from Marion Timms a long standing supporter and adviser to Friends of Rivers, Peel provided the other 2200 plants.

The planting was part of a strategy to improve the water quality of this water way and restore the riparian vegetation.

The students from Pinjarra Senior High School under the direction of teacher Janene Wells are making significant contributions to the community and the environment in their joint activities with Friends of Rivers, Peel

Clean-up Australia Day 2007

Community Joins Forces For Clean Up Day

Local community organisations Friends of Rivers, Peel and South Yunderup Residents and Ratepayers Association came together on Sunday the 11th of March to conduct a clean up of the Murray and Serpentine Rivers and the South Yunderup area. They were joined by a group of scout cubs from the 1st Pinjarra Scout Group who made their way from Pinjarra to South Yunderup in boats removing rubbish from the river and foreshore along the way.

The amount of rubbish removed from the Murray and Serpentine Rivers was again disappointing given the efforts of the community in previous years with more than 30 tyres of various sizes and a shopping trolley being removed from the rivers.

Building waste from homes under construction in South Yunderup featured prominently in the land based volunteers clean up and action needs to be taken against builders and contractors by the Shire of Murray in enforcing their by laws reported clean up organiser Colin Elton.

The clean up team ensured that South Yunderup Rd including the park and ride car park at Pinjarra Rd were litter free by mid day on Sunday but by early on Monday the 12 th litter was again being discarded from vehicles and by Tuesday litter was again present in the car park.

Volunteers are the backbone of any community and the clean up team did what all good teams do at the end of the job, they adjourned for a well earned sausage sizzle and refreshment sponsored by ALCOA, The Shire of Murray and IGA Pinjarra.


The Clean-up team


Marcus McGregor, Gemma Urquhart,Jamie Iseppi


The grand total 2007
   

Baffle Boards at the Delta Islands


Baffle Boards Team

Delivering The Baffle Boards

Baffles getting ready to beinstalled

 

TEAM WORK GETS THE JOB DONE

What can you achieve when you have 33 students and a teacher from Pinjarra Senior High School, 4 Environmental Trainees from Fairbridge, 2 officers from the Department for the Environment and 3 volunteers from community group Friends of Rivers, Peel all working as a team?

The answer, a very successful planting of 1600 seedlings on Murray River foreshore in Pinjarra.

The students and community group Friends of Rivers, Peel had been awarded a LandCare/Mitre10 grant to fund the project and with the assistance of the Fairbridge Environmental Trainees have been preparing the site for the planting over recent months.

All involved worked in teams and were supported by the schools student council with the provision of morning tea and a sausage sizzle lunch to celebrate a big morning’s work.

Pictured:
Back row Tyler Graham, Daniel Goodin, Tegan Ambrosa, Shirley Joiner, Jamie Robson.
Front Row Sue Cox and John Tuckey Mitre 10 Pinjarra, Janene Wells Pinjarra Senior High School

Pictured:
Back row are students Shane Hart, Joel O’Driscoll, Steven David.
Front row are Fairbridge Trainees Alyssa Remedio, Kyla Italiano, Tristan Yeomans, Mitchell Eccles.

 

Local Business, Students and Community Group Working Together

Students and teachers from Pinjarra Senior High School have formed a partnership with the community Group Friends of Rivers, Peel and have been awarded a Mitre 10/Landcare grant to undertake a foreshore restoration project on the Murray River in Pinjarra.

This is the third year that the students from Pinjarra Senior High School have been involved in an environmental project on the Peel Rivers reports teacher Janene Wells.

This project involves water sampling, weed control, the removal of introduced plant species and replanting with plants native to the area, monitoring and evaluation along with river bank restoration.

Friends of Rivers, Peel will provide by way of the grant the materials and plants. Resources to spray for weed control, site preparation and grant administration.

John Tuckey from Tuckey’s Mitre 10 in Pinjarra is pleased that grants for river restoration projects in the Murray Shire are now being made more accessible for activities like the project that the students have undertaken.

Friends of Rivers,Peel spokesperson Colin Elton is hopeful that today’s students undertaking these projects will be the community drivers of the future and will continue to be involved in community environmental activities after they leave school.

The pic features Mr John Tuckey Mitre 10 Pinjarra congratulating Janene Wells from Pinjarra Senior High School on the receipt of the Landcare Mitre 10 grant.

In the pic left to right Anthony Pittman teacher, Toby Cope, Evian Elzinga, Dylan Tucker, Shakira Geersson, John Tuckey, Janene Wells, Kyle Bonser, Tegan Ambrosa, Jared Fischer-Rasmussen, Lana Glasson, Sue Cox, Colin Elton

Cameron and Chloe Spraying

 

 

 

These signs have been placed by the Shire of Murray at strategic points along the Murray River because their data from sampling shows how sick the river is and they wont invoke the health act to enforce the connection to sewerage.

 

Erosion caused by boat wash and tidal movement is a major cause of damage along the river.

Examples of the erosion caused by boat wash and tidal movement

An example of FoR Peel's rehabilitation work.