Celebrating National Science Week with a Walk on the Wild Side

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Celebrating National Science Week with a Walk on the Wild Side

National Science Week took place during August, with NACC NRM joining Chapman River Friends’ for their National Science Walk community event to mark the occasion!

On Sunday 11 August, the Chapman River Regional Park came alive with vibrant community spirit as more than 60 attendees gathered to take part in an educational river walk. The National Science Walk enabled members of the community to interact with and learn about the ecological significance of the Chapman River, with insights from a diverse group of local organisations.

Joining in on the fun were representatives from 11 organisations, each committed to making a positive impact on our environment and community. The line-up included speakers from the City of Greater Geraldton, The Square Kilometre Array Observatory, Central Regional TAFE, Birdlife Midwest-Geraldton, Boomerang Bags Geraldton, Geraldton Tree Canopy Advocates, Midwest Carbon Zero, Gero Clean Up Crew, and Friends of Geraldton Gardens (FROGGS) Inc. Their collective knowledge offered a comprehensive view of the ongoing efforts to protect and improve the natural resources within both the Chapman River Regional Park and throughout our region.

NACC NRM's Coastal & Marine Project Officer Josh Burney speaking about subtropical and temperate coastal saltmarsh.

One of the highlights of the event was NACC NRM’s Coastal and Marine Project Officer Josh Burney delivering a fascinating overview of the Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) of subtropical and temperate coastal saltmarsh. Josh’s presentation spotlighted the crucial role of coastal saltmarsh ecosystems, the threats they face, and the importance of preserving these areas due to their ecological significance.

It was the perfect opportunity to discuss NACC NRM’s latest project aimed at improving the condition of coastal saltmarshes in the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR). Preliminary site assessments are underway at various estuaries including Murchison, Chapman, Greenough, Irwin, Hill, and Moore, as well as at Greenhead and Leeman. This will help map and protect vital areas through measures like weed and rubbish removal, improved signage, educational efforts, and access control.

Not only was this event a great way to celebrate National Science Week, it also allowed the community to connect with local organisations, learn about their projects, and discuss ways to contribute to environmental conservation. With ongoing initiatives and community involvement, we can look forward to a future where our shared spaces and their ecosystems continue to educate and thrive.

To find out more about NACC NRM’s project ‘Improving Subtropical & Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh’, please contact our Coastal & Marine team.

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and NACC NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. 

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.