Replanting and fencing to protect lakes from salinity

A last stand is being taken at Abbott's freshwater lake system, 120 kilometres west of Perth in the Avon region, where four lakes fresh enough to drink from are being protected from salinity.

Landowner Leanne Murray, whose 1,700 acre wheat and sheep farm holds part of the system, said the lakes are virtually hidden so not many people know they're there.

"We used to water-ski on the main one and the smaller one is the catchment for rain that flows out and feeds into the others with swamps in between," she said.

"The water filters through the sand and ends up pooling, which is how they start. Then they go salty when they drag the salt up through the ground. These will go salty if we don't do anything. It's quite sad really."

Funding

There are precious few freshwater lakes in Western Australia's sandplain country due to land clearing and the mobility of salt crystals. Landholders are saving what's left with the help of around $33,000 from the Australian Government.

Activities

A horticulturalist by trade, Leanne had previously carried out rehabilitation on mines around Port Headland. When she saw the "huge potential" of the sandplain country she was won over.

"It's amazing there's that much wildlife here such as lizards, frogs and rare species plus plenty of birdlife including swans," Leanne said.

"Once farmers see the results then others come onboard. They look over the fence and think it's amazing. You're not making money off it anyway because it's too sandy, but by rehabilitation it will bring back the rest of the farm because there's no wind erosion. It does justice to your farm. Just by stopping stock going in you instantly get regeneration."

In the project's first year Leanne planted 7000 trees with her bare hands, and saw a 96 per cent success rate. In the second year she and her neighbour used planters to put in 22,000 trees and in the third year they collectively planted 10,000 trees.

She also fenced off 56 hectares of intact remnant vegetation from stock and part of the creek that flows into the system.

"We've now got a picnic area there and it's in a world of its own," Leanne said. "That's why it needs protecting, it's so vital to have those areas but you know the salt's creeping in. I hope the landholders keep going with it.

"The government's been good - you couldn't do it on your own."

More information

• Leanne Murray: (08) 9173 1024 or 0417 939 040.

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts