Boost for green work

by Taelor Pelusey - Busselton Dunsborough Times - Friday September 23, 2016

An environmental rehabilitation project covering almost 10,000sqm of the Tuart Forest National Park has received an $8000-plus boost from the South West Catchments Council.

The Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre earlier this month learned it had been successful in round three of the SWCC’s South West Community Groundworks Grant program. Project officer Silke Rothkamm said the funds would purchase 1000 seedlings for planting during the centre’s annual planting day, next winter.

Volunteers have helped plant around 1000 seedlings in 2015 and 2016 as part of the ongoing project to return the cleared Department of Parks and Wildlife land to its native state.

“The aim of the project is to improve the diversity and connectivity of native vegetation in degraded areas of the Tuart Forest National Park through the implementation of successful unground rehabilitation works by the BDEC,” Ms Rothkamm said. The grant will also fund the installation of interpretative signage for future education and community information.

Since 2015, 728m of fencing has been installed to enclose the 9932sqm parcel of land. BDEC committee member Mike Chartres said fencing and protective barriers on selected trees protected vegetation from pests, such as rabbits.

The City of Busselton have publicised their draft Environment Strategy for public consultation. Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions on the strategy and have until the 12th October 2016 to submit feedback.

For more information, click here to visit the City of Busselton's website where you can download the draft Environment Strategy. Alternatively you can request a hard copy by phoning 9781 0444.

Please address written submissions to the CEO, City of Busselton, Locked Bag 1, Busselton WA 6280, or by email to: will.oldfield@busselton.wa.gov.au. The deadline for submissions is 4.30pm on Wednesday 12th October 2016