Hotham Catchment Landcare. Projects and Achievements

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1 Hotham Catchment Landcare Projects and Achievements

2 The Hotham River Catchment The main landuse is broadacre farming, predominantly grazing in the west and cropping in the east. There is bauxite and gold mining in the Boddington Shire. There is increasing interest in lifestyle properties in all three shires, with much subdivision being carried out in recent years. Landcare has been a prominent feature in the area for around the last 10 years. With the increase in small landholdings, interest in landcare is also growing.

3 Shire Hotham Williams Catchment Statistics 600,000 ha Area (sq km) Av rainfall (mm) Shire popl n Boddington Cuballing Wandering Narrogin Williams

4 Hotham Catchment Broadacre Farming Production Farm Area 233,805 hectares Cereal 37,151 hectares Hay & Pasture 3,753 hectares Sheep sales value $6,092,000 Cattle sales value $2,350,000 Pig sales value $2,831,000 Wool Values $16,329,000 Total Agriculture GVP$47,634,000

5 Envirofund projects Envirofund grants have been made available through the Natural Heritage Trust for individuals and landcare groups to enhance and conserve their local environment. Over the past 3 years, there has been high interest in these grants across the Hotham Catchment. We have sourced just over $400,000 of funding for 18 projects. Round 8 is now open, and we have 12 applications to assist with before the April 28 deadline. The main interest is in fencing remnant vegetation, as well as fencing and revegetating creeklines and low-lying lying winter wet areas.

6 Envirofund figures Year Envirofund contribution Applicant contribution Total 2002/03 $22,770 $32,860 $53, $23,942 $48,670 $82, /04 $18,282 $19,330 $37, $42,148 $52,147 $94, $62,723 $74,032 $136,755 Total $160,647 $200,484 $404,194

7 On-ground action

8 On-ground action

9 Rivercare projects Rivercare funding has been made available through the Peel Harvey Catchment Council. Just under $190,000 of funding has been sourced over the last 2 years. Almost 40 kms of the Hotham River is now protected through Rivercare projects. There is continued concern from the community regarding the health of the river and many landholders are keen to fence off their rivers and stream systems.

10 Rivercare funding Year River care Applicant Total 2004/05 $32,683 $48,095 $80, /06 $52,665 $55,524 $107,919 Total $85,348 $103,619 $188,397

11 On-ground action

12 On-ground action

13 ICLEI International Councils for Local Environmental Initiatives water campaign encouraging local councils to develop good water use ethics. All 3 Shires are up to Milestone 4 of the Water Campaign Boddington retrofitting council & public toilets with dual flush systems, installing low flow shower heads and flow restrictors in council buildings. Cuballing storm water harvesting by installing guttering and underground pipe system from Cuballing Hall and change rooms to the reticulation dam. Wandering retrofitting council and public toilets with dual flush systems.

14 Dryandra Project Through the South West Catchment Council (SWCC), we have funding to: assess and rank remnant vegetation around Dryandra Woodland protect these private remnants create linkages from these remnants to the reserve 22 landholders with highly ranked bushland have been contacted.

15 Boddington School Stencils on Drains project The Boddington Bauxite mine, through the Ribbons of Blue program, are providing funding for the Boddington District High School Stencils on Drains taking care of the Hotham River project. The year 8 science students have designed stencils to put on drains around town to raise awareness that what goes down the drain ends up in our river.

16 Workshops and field days A number of workshops and field days have been held in the Hotham Catchment, which have been well attended. These include: Farm forestry at Cuballing Perennial pastures and summer crops tour Rivercare workshops at Popanyinning and Boddington Livestock field day at Boddington Heavenly Hectares at Boddington and Popanyinning Property Planning at Boddington and Cuballing Wandoo Crown Decline at Crossman West Reserve

17 Sorghum at Cuballing

18 Wandoo Crown Decline WS

19 But wait there there s s more! Workshops and field days planned for this year include: Heavenly Hectares at Wandering Property Planning at Cuballing Sheep management field day Perennial pastures field day

20 Groups we support Friends of Reserves, Boddington (Inc) Boddington River Action Group Boddington Farm & Landcare Group Wandering Productivity Group East Yornanning LCDC Local schools Plus any individual within our catchment!!

21 What s s next?? We are always on the lookout for funding opportunities for our community! Recently submitted an application to Looking after Country grants - establishing a bush food grove and an indigenous tourism venture at Ranford Pool, near Boddington. A project to establish a walk trail along the Hotham River at Boddington has also recently been submitted to TrailsWest. In preparation - a number of small projects for the Australia Post grants, which close in May. These include a digital camera for Hotham Catchment Landcare, Regional Herbarium support for Boddington Friends of Reserves, and a brochure indicating plant species in the catchment, their height, flowering time and uses for landholders.

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