Hidden deep in the soil of a dairy farmer’s paddock could be a solution to help look after waterways, prevent harmful algal blooms and improve farm productivity. Scott River dairy farmer Brad Boley is working with scientists at the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and local catchment group … Read More
Knowing Nullaki Festival celebrates treasured inlet
Baby jellyfish, marine worms and glass shrimp were among the critters that delighted Denmark residents when Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) staff demonstrated seagrass and water quality monitoring techniques at a recent community event. Nullaki is the Noongar word for seagrass and for Denmark’s Wilson Inlet and the … Read More
Regional communities working together to restore waterways
As part of Healthy Estuaries WA, farmers across the South West are improving the health of waterways and receiving estuaries by fencing to exclude stock from streams and drains, and by revegetating riparian zones (the areas along the banks of a waterway).
Field days for accurate fertiliser application
This June, Healthy Estuaries WA is again providing the popular Accu-Spread demonstration days in partnership with catchment groups and Australia’s leading expert, Russell Nichol. The field days will provide farmers with an opportunity to improve the performance of their spreaders. Most fertiliser spreaders deliver highly variable spread patterns. This means that some … Read More
Mysterious mass sea hare beaching theory released
In February 2021, thousands of dead slug-like sea hares washed up on the beaches of the Hardy Inlet in Augusta causing local community concern. Sea hares are molluscs, which are dark-coloured and grow to up to 60cm. They are toxic and while they do not pose a threat to human … Read More
Dairy cares in Leschenault
Dairy farmers in the Leschenault catchment are striving for best practice effluent management by investing in effluent systems, which are keeping nutrients on farm and out of waterways. Nine dairy farms in the catchment have joined 12 other farms in the South West to take advantage of funding incentives through … Read More
Skilling up in Manjimup
Catchment officers and government staff met in Manjimup on Wednesday 18 August to take the next step forward in the Healthy Estuaries WA fertiliser management program. This year will see an increase in the number of people able to digitise farm maps, with our catchment officers learning from staff at … Read More
Overwhelming response to this year’s fertiliser management program
More than 190 farmers applied to have their soil tested in the latest round of the Healthy Estuaries WA’s fertiliser management program. The 2020/21 program, which closed on Friday 9 July, was the first time farmers were offered two methods of soil sampling: do-it-yourself or sampled for you. Prior … Read More
Clear standards for dairy effluent
The Western Australian dairy industry has shown its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of dairy farm effluent with its release of a revised Code of Practice for Dairy Farm Effluent WA. First developed in 2012 by Western Dairy and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), the Code … Read More
Nine partners on board
Partnership agreements were signed with nine organisations in January to collaboratively deliver Healthy Estuaries WA over the next four years. The partnership agreements will collectively fund more than $9 million of on-ground works and expand capacity in the regions to manage and protect our precious waterways. The funding will employ … Read More