Habitat heroes honoured

The South West Catchments Council has been recognised with an environmental award for the second time in two weeks, this time for its work restoring the Lower Blackwood catchment.

SWCC received the CSBP Environment Award at the 2012 Regional Achievement Awards ceremony last week for its Lower Blackwood Linkages project.

The project is a partnership between SWCC and the Lower Blackwood Land Conservation District Committee, Perth Zoo, Department of Environment and Conservation and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

SWCC chief executive Damien Postma said the award was a credit to the staff and partnerships involved in the project.

“The industry is challenging and there’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

“The staff work tirelessly to chip away at major issues and this helps revitalise the team.

“It is a real acknowledgement of the effectiveness of communitybased natural resource management and the on-ground outcomes that can be achieved with the funding provided by the Australian Government.”

The project is funded by the Australian Governments Caring for our Country program.

The Lower Blackwood Linkages project involves repairing the Lower Blackwood catchments and protecting areas still in good condition via revegetation, protecting streams and working with farmers to change chemical use.

“The tributaries are really important areas and really pristine spots with high ecological values with farmland in between,” Mr Postma said.

SWCC also works with the Perth Zoo as part of the project to reverse the declining populations of whitebellied frogs in the area.

“Perth Zoo has managed to breed some froglets and they’re introducing them back into the environment,” Mr Postma said.

“We’re making sure the habitat is suitable for them to live and thrive .”

The 2012 Regional Achievement and Community Awards, sponsored by The West Australian Regional Newspapers, were announced at an awards presentation dinner last Friday in Perth.

“It is important our community recognises and encourages men and women, businesses and community groups that are helping to carve out a better place for us all to live,” The West Australian Regional Newspapers general manager Ian Jones said.

Winners received a $2000 bank account from the Commonwealth Bank and a trophy.