It is with great pleasure that NACC NRM’s Coastal & Marine team announce the successful conclusion of Round 11 of the Coastal Community Grants program. This round funded seven projects, as outlined in a previous article, all of which focused on sea and shore birds.
The Conservation Council of WA successfully delivered two projects. The first assisted the completion of a Management Strategy for the Australian Fairy Tern: Mid-west Coast and Houtman Abrolhos Islands, and the second a long overdue seabird survey of the islands of the Turquoise Coast.
Birdlife Midwest was also the successful recipient of two grants, which together delivered a whole flock of community events to raise awareness, and support materials. Highlights included an events stall in Geraldton that included very popular and beautiful temporary tattoos (of seabirds, naturally), a photo exhibition and competition, several school holiday bird walks, a wetland exhibition and various workshops. These folks really know how to share their love of our marine feathered friends!
Back on shore, the newly formed Hillview Reserve Friends worked closely with the City of Greater Geraldton to deliver a face-lift of this degraded reserve at the north end of Geraldton. Extensive boxthorn removal and erosion control (as well as some ongoing vigilance) will have the reserve back to its former glories in no time.
Lastly, at the far northern and southern ends of our region, the Kalbarri Boardriders Club and Friends of Lancelin Coast respectively have undertaken on ground works, particularly signage, to help protect our most cost-effective form of coastal protection against coastal hazards; healthy fore-dunes.
A huge thank you to everyone who got involved and put in the hard work to make this round such a success.
This project was made possible through funding from the WA State NRM Program.
