Mumbida wind farm will be located 40km south east of Geraldton and it's 85 wind turbines will generate 55 megawatts, enough energy to power 35,000 homes and offset 165,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Verve Energy expects construction to be complete by Nov 2012.
According to a recent survey, two key Wheatbelt rock wallaby populations have decreased to just 14 animals compared to 112 recorded in 2007 and DEC has intervened to save the species. Although the exact cause of the decline is not known, predation by foxes, drought and potential weed toxicity as the rock wallabies grazed on plants they normally avoided are among the causes being considered.
41 woylies released last year into the 420ha predator-proof Perup Sanctuary last are showing promising recovery results as all but one are still alive and well, all females are breeding and 11 new woylies were detected, six of which are breeding females. Since 2001 woylie populations have declined dramatically with some populations shrinking by 99 per cent.
As per election promises the Government has allocated $10million over the next two years for the development of a wildlife corridor plan to guide local, regional and State Governments, Natural Resource Managements organisations, and private landholders in designing and building wildlife corridors to support landscape scale conservation.
The Department of Environment and Conservation will use state government budget funding to expand it program of re-establishing threatened species into the wild over the next four years.
Ten species not previously recorded on site, including a Desert Skink, Burton's Legless Lizard and a Mitchell's Hopping Mouse were identified during a research survey conducted by Earthwatch Australia at the reserve. Scientists here catching, measuring, weighing and then releasing the native animals to study the impact feral cats and foxes are having on biodiversity on the reserve and if their control has had any effect.
A mass infestation of lantana weeds covering over 20 hectares along the highway between the Chapman Valley roundabout and the Gull 440 Roadhouse was recently identified and is now being sprayed with herbicide. Lantana is smothering or destroying the habitats of more than 1300 precious native species including 376 rare and endangered plants and animals across Australia. If you see lantana growing outside yards contact us.
Do you live in the Moore River Catchment and are planning to fence off creek lines and remnant vegetation this year? Or do you want to contribute to the long term protection of the Moore Catchments’ natural assets? Then contact Rachel or Ingrid at the MCC office at 9653 1355 for further details.
The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC), together with the City of Geraldton-Greenough and Coastwest are embarking on a Coastal Monitoring Program that will help the community and decision makers to better understand our ever changing coastline. And they’re calling on the community to help to observe and report changes