Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Peaceful conservation near Minyulo Creek
If you stray too far west of Minyulo Creek, 180 kilometres north of Perth, you'll find yourself in the middle of a bombing range - but on the other side you'll find yourself at the centre of a peaceful conservation effort.
This local effort is saving 23 hectares of remnant vegetation along the creek and involves 20 landholders whose properties border Minyulo Creek starting upstream at Dandaragan until it flows into unallocated heath land or crown land.
Sheep and cattle farmers have fenced off 80 hectares of private property to prevent stock access to the bank and water course.
Funding
The project has been supported with $12,000 from the Australian Government.
Activities and achievements
Land Manager Kevin Shackleton said the area had only recently been settled, with the better areas used for farming from about 1880 onwards.
"The sandy areas weren't used until the '60s when they were opened up for grazing," Kevin said. "Farmers learned how to use stabilising pastures on sand so it's been pretty good from 2000 onwards."
"This project is looking at stabilising the riparian area, but not the bulk of the farm because our country is being managed better overall and pastures have really been well established over these sandy properties."
River frontage now boasts newly-regenerated areas including River Beech, Gum Trees, Tea Trees, River Red Gums and sedges and grasses to stabilise the creek. The new-look river is barely recognisable.
"In the early days cattle were watered on the water frontage and clearing was conducted," Kevin said. "In some places the river had an undefined flow line, which ran from sinkhole to sinkhole and was filled with Tea Trees. These were cleared out so you ended up with an open paddock with a river that flows through it."
The new understorey and overstorey vegetation has also created a wildlife corridor for native fauna like the threatened Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo (which has lost nesting sites in the past), Corellas, Woylies and Western Quolls.
"We're aware of the role of the creekline in providing a refuge for these animals and linking native bush corridors," Kevin said. "The corridors join an existing 13 hectares of remnant vegetation on the north side of the creek and a 170 hectare lake system at the end of our property, which has been fenced off to help protect invertebrates and black swans."
More information
- Kevin Shackleton, Land Manager: Shackleton.kevin@wrcag.com.au
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