Estuary forums give catch-up on catchments

Hosted by local catchment groups in partnership with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's (DWER) Regional Estuaries Initiative, the forums include updates on the science of each estuary, an overview of on-ground actions to protect estuaries and an opportunity for community members to ask questions.

The estuary forums cover Hardy Inlet in Augusta on the 22 October and Leschenault Estuary in Bunbury on the 23 October and follow forums held on the South Coast last week.

DWER Aquatic Science Branch Manager Malcolm Robb said the estuary forums offer a rare chance to talk to both the scientists studying our waterways and the experts working to protect them.

"Each of our estuaries are complex systems that have unique challenges. The estuary forums are a chance for locals to find out about the estuary they fish in, paddle on and enjoy," Mr Robb said.

"Locals can look forward to hearing about a huge variety of topics like how seagrass distributions in the Leschenault have changed over the last few years and finding out about a new, innovative trial on a dairy farm near Hardy Inlet.

"Catchment groups like Lower Blackwood LCDC and Leschenault Catchment Council are vital partners in the Regional Estuaries Initiative.

"They are on the ground implementing actions to protect the estuaries that support our economies and lifestyles."

The Regional Estuaries Initiative is a $20 million Royalties for Regions program to improve the health of six key South West estuaries.

Hardy Inlet Estuary Forum

Leschenault Estuary Forum

For more information about the Regional Estuaries Initiative or the upcoming estuary forums go to www.rei.dwer.wa.gov.au