Partners to protect city bush

The South West Catchments Council and City of Bunbury are joining forces to create the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park.

The proposed park is expected to cover 915ha of continuous public reserves including Manea Park, Loughton Park, Hay Park, Tuart Brook and Maidens Reserve.

South West Catchments Council chief executive officer Damien Postma said the entire area was under threat from to a range of pressures such as weeds, rabbits, foxes and dieback.

“This is a unique piece of bushland and Bunbury residents are lucky enough to have it,” he said.

“The council is looking forward to working with the City of Bunbury and the Bunbury community to ensure the park is protected.”

The project’s main aim is to improve and enhance the health of the vegetation unique to WA and protect the plant and animal species which inhabit the land.

The city’s sustainability team leader Ben Deeley said he was excited for the partnership to begin.

“As a result of the work we do together, the benefits to the unique environments in these reserves will be significant and I really hope the Bunbury community gets behind it,” he said.

The plan is Federally funded.