Healthy Estuaries WA celebrates eight years of estuary impact

More than 100 stakeholders met in Mandurah on Wednesday, 3 September to mark another chapter in State Government’s Healthy Estuaries WA program.

Building on the Regional Estuaries Initiative (2016-2020), Healthy Estuaries WA continues as a unique collaboration to protect and restore the health of our south-west estuaries. This conference provided an opportunity to strengthen networks and reflect on eight years of efforts and insights to learn from the program’s progress and achievements.

Frances D’Souza, a scientist at DWER, commented, “The conference had a really positive energy where people enjoyed catching up with colleagues and other practitioners to share learnings from implementing their projects. It was inspiring and hopeful to see some of the positive change that is occurring due to the commitment of the people and funding for creating healthy estuaries.”

Presentations were delivered by project partners, regional catchment officers, Traditional Owners, and scientists from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Speakers shared how their projects fit into the overarching goal of improved estuary health. Topics included soil testing and water quality treatment, Aboriginal management practices, fencing, revegetation and drainage, scientific monitoring and modelling, community engagement strategies, farm effluent management upgrades, increasing regional capacity, and more.

“It was great to hear about the ongoing care for country, and the different management efforts and funding that have gone into supporting better estuary health over decades. It was a good reminder that Healthy Estuaries WA is building on a long legacy of restoration work,” shared Katrina Zeehandelaar-Adams, Biodiversity Program Manager for the Leschenault Catchment Council.