- written by South West Catchments Council, 2009 -

Overview

The Gracetown Progress Association (GPA) provides a unified voice for Gracetown residents in relation to issues affecting Cowaramup Bay. One of the main objectives of the association is:

“To promote sustainable use of the environment in and around Gracetown and Cowaramup Bay through the preservation and restoration of the ecology of marine, bush and dune areas and to promote the strong bond amongst the people of the Gracetown community and their respect for the natural beauty of the area. “

The Gracetown Progress Association Environment Committee is a sub committee of the Gracetown Progress Association. The role of the GPA Environment committee is to monitor and promote the sustainable use of the natural environment within a 5km radius of the townsite of Gracetown.

Partnerships

The GPA Environment Committee liases with the Augusta Margaret River Shire Council, Department of Environment and Conservation, Cape to Cape Catchments Group and Geocatch on environmental works around Gracetown. These include weed control, revegetation, flora surveying, monitoring and education of biodiversity.

Project Focus - Revegetation Project 2008

The revegetation project in 2008 concentrated on seven sites with a total area of 1300 m². Six of these were adding to works from previous years 2006 and 2007. The seventh site was new in 2008. 3000 plants were planted at these sites from April to September. These plants were all of provenance and had been propagated from local seed by Cowaramup Tube Nursery. With state and federal funding and Biodiversity Hot Spot Funding, 1000 seedlings were planted at the creek revegetation sites, and 2000 plants went in at the boat ramp, Melaleuca picnic and foreshore areas, and South point sites. To protect the seedlings from rabbits, they were all bagged and staked.

Over this planting season, five community planting days were organised where most of the plants were put in the ground. The sites were monitored over the summer. Some watering and weeding has been carried out. An assessment of survival rates was done on 15 February 2009. It was found that the more exposed sand dune sites need to improve survival rates. Improvements to foredune revegetation methods will be researched to improve success rates in 2009.

Revegetation sites

1.South point: on northern side of path, around hilltop directly east of main rehabilitation area. Planting to support and thicken Melaleuca lanceolata population which extends onto the cliff face, and to provide buffer between path and Osprey nest. 100 m². Survival rate: 50%.

2. Melaleuca beach foredune: in front of picnic area. To thicken vegetation stabilising foredunes and providing wind buffer. 150 m². Survival rate: 50%.

3. Melaleuca picnic area: planting to support large old Melaleuca lanceolata and diversify the recent plantings of Melaleuca lanceolata in the area, reduce area available to grassy weeds and protect and stabilise limestone cliff face. 160 m². Survival rate: 60%.

4. Brook and surrounds west of road: creek bank and edges of open areas, extending the creeks vegetative buffer. Stabilising foredunes. 120 m². Survival rate: 80%. Foredune: 40%.

5. Brook and surrounds east of road: creek bank and edges of open areas, extending the creek’s vegetative buffer. 600 m². Survival rate: 80%.

6. Boat ramp car park: planting to provide a shrub buffer for the wetland, behind log boundaries to discourage encroachment from vehicles. 30 m². Survival rate: 90%.

7. South Point car park: planting at east end, around Osprey perch to provide buffer from car park. Planting to increase vegetative support of stable dunes and exposed sites to decrease and discourage foot traffic impacts. 145m². Survival rate: 70%. Osprey perch site: 80%.

In the 2009 planting season 1500 plants are planned to be added to the present revegetation sites, plus one new site: Site 8. The new site for 2009 is in front of the shop behind a new fence, set back 10 m from the road. This is to protect and reclaim the wildlife corridor linking Cowaramup Brook and Huzzas/South point. Plantings will be to fill in areas previously cleared. 200 m².

This project has increased awareness of the work the group is doing to improve the native vegetation areas in Cowaramup Bay. Community involvement has been excellent with over 450 hours of labour contributed to planting. Deb Rooks, chairperson of the GPA Environmental Committee has given many of these hours along with other members such as Jan and Bruce McAuley, Heather Kelly, Jan James and Jen Stephens.