Landholders shown benefits of restoring waterways in bus tour of Geographe catchment area

A group of South West landholders have seen first-hand the benefits of rehabilitation around the region’s waterways. Examples of the benefits of farmers carrying out weed control, planting banks with native species and installing livestock-proof fencing were shown on a recent bus tour of the Geographe catchment held by GeoCatch and restoration expert Greg Overton. The tour began with a newly rehabilitated site fenced and planted out by Chris Credaro in 2013, where many native plants were able to survive last year’s dry summer. A stop at a five-year-old rehabilitation site by farmer Brodie Allen followed, where established plant growth had created a thriving habitat. Mr Overton said the sound at a site was one of the signs of a successful restoration. “You can hear birds and insects and the gentle flow of water,” he said. “These sounds signify a functioning eco-system.” The tour’s final stop was Chip Yelverton’s property, which has been transformed over the course of a decade from what were once bare banks into a fully functional riparian zone. “At the same time as fencing and planting this creek, we started soil testing and following a targeted fertiliser regime to stop excess nutrients from entering the waterway,” he said. GeoCatch Rivercare officer Olivia Tunney said the success of all three sites was a testament to the landholders. “Each site demonstrated how rehabilitation can be achieved over time and the role that these sites play in creating healthier waterways,” she said. The organisation’s Rivercare program can support those restoring the banks of waterways through stock-proof fencing and planting. Both efforts stabilise banks, reduce nutrient runoff and increase biodiversity.