Gingin Water Group
The State’s water regulator has warned Gingin Water Group and the Gingin Shire Council that landholders and the wider Gingin community need to be informed that the fragile and very important wetland system of their region is under threat.
Significant parts of the system are losing contact with the groundwater aquifers that help recharge the associated lakes, soaks and streams. Natural vegetation attached to this complex of water loving plants supports a diverse range of life so important to the region’s community.
Increasing temperatures and reduced rainfall are confidently predicted to further damage this system. Landholders are warned to take notice and commence or continue the process of protecting and rehabilitating as much of their natural asset as possible.
Scientists from the water regulator, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), recently presented the facts to Council and Shire staff. They discussed the science of their predictions and summarized the steps being taken to further understand the problem. The information gained will guide recommendations they may provide to landholders seeking advice.
DWER praised the work of the committee of the Gingin Water Group in raising the water issues on behalf of the community and encouraged Council to assist the Group communicate the DWER message to the local population.
It was made clear that the situation was not all doom and gloom.
The region’s wetland system is large and together with the associated green regions of Boonanarring Nature Reserve and Moore River National Park in the north and Yeal Nature Reserve in the south, is hardy and ecologically resilient. There are still many areas of good and very good habitat. Many parts still get very wet in winter. However in a changing weather pattern and possibly increased grazing pressures areas will become vulnerable to permanent damage.
DWER advised that very recent research of the Moore River estuary found it to be in overall good health. Much of the estuary is now fenced from stock and large numbers of trees planted.
This summer they are conducting habitat health, streamflow volume and pool fish sampling at selected sites along all of the region’s brooks from Yalyal and Breera up to Red Gully. The results will be given to GWG for public circulation.
DWER encouraged Council to help circulate the Landholder Water Information Package to all residents. This document was written by Gingin Water Group with guidance from DWER, Perth NRM and NACC to carry the water message.
It has links on the final page to helpful resources specific to landholders’ needs.
The document identifies 5 zones covering some 1500 ratepayers. Zone specific files and a large regional map is on display in the Gingin Community Resource Centre (CRC).
Northern Valleys News readers are encouraged to view the package which can be downloaded here:
2018-11-14_Operations_-_Gingin_Brook_Water_Catchment_Community_Engagement_Project_V2
A water forum, where speakers will discuss this and other water issues, will be held at the Bendigo Complex clubroom on Saturday morning March 30 starting at 9am. DWER will speak on the above matters as well as licensing, allocation and water meters. A climatologist from the Bureau of Meteorology will provide details of recent observed and predicted future rainfall trends. Bon Electrics will discuss bore and pump maintenance.
Further details about the forum will be advertised in the March edition of NV News. You can also contact the organiser Chittering Landcare Centre on chitteringlandcare@iinet.net.au or 9571 0400 for further information and to RSVP. RSVP is required for catering purposes.
