Ken John is a cattle farmer from Karridale with a passion for protecting the waterways around his property.
Mr John has taken advantage of a South West Catchments Council (SWCC) Strategic Groundworks grant and help from Lower Blackwood LCDC Landcare Manager Jacqui Roberts to fence an area of creek which flows into Turner Brook.
The creek was suffering the impact of cattle and since being fenced, Mr John has noticed a marked improvement in the condition of the creek banks.
“This is the first step in stabilising the creek banks from the impact of cows,” Mr John said.
“I was motivated by my neighbour’s project in 2006 when they fencedand revegetated thecreep upstream,” Mr John said.
“Unfortunately I didn’t own the property then, but as soon as I did I approached Jacqui Roberts to see if there was funding available for similar work.”
The fight to eradicate the invasive arum lily continues across the region, and Margaret River resident Ray Swarts had his work cut out for him right on the front line – working for the past seven years on controlling arum lily on his property and the reserve that borders the Margaret River.
“The area previously had no understorey and was just covered in arum lily,” Mr Swarts said.
“My first step was to contact the Cape to Cape Catchments Group to get advice.
“I have worked to eradicate the weed and establish all layers of the forest here, also using the Herbarium to identify what endemic species were present.”
The Cape to Cape Catchments Group (CCG) is targeting weed species on the river and its tributaries, providing a 50:50 cost sharing arrangement with property owners.
CCG Rivercare officer Genevieve Hanran-Smith said Mr Swarts’ work was an inspiration to the group as well as other land owners on neighbouring properties.
“Ray is very generous and allows us to bring interested people here to see what can be achieved,” Ms Hanran-Smith said.
Over three years the Strategic Groundworks program has provided funding to thirteen Landcare groups in the South West, directed towards onground conservation and agricultural activities on private and public land.
Community Landcare organisations such as the Cape to Cape Catchments Group and the Lower Blackwood LCDC receives funding assistance through the program, which originates from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
Nicky Lefebvre
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
