Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare

Project Profile

Issues

The work of SNEC both in protecting the Stirling coastal zone and raising awareness of the need to conserve environmentally sensitive areas contributes significantly to the sustainable use and management of Western Australia’s coastal environment.

Project Detail

Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare (SNEC) has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its work in the rehabilitation and protection of the North Beach and Waterman’s fragile coast zone.

Lead by Convenor, Rae Kolb, SNEC has a wide volunteer base with a smaller administrative core – together achieving a great deal.

The work of SNEC both in protecting the Stirling coastal zone and raising awareness of the need to conserve environmentally sensitive areas contributes significantly to the sustainable use and management of Western Australia’s coastal environment.

With no initial funding, a small group of local residents sought partnerships and support from a variety of sources to enable them to commence site surveys, develop a weed mapping and management strategy, compile flora and fauna species lists for the area, and plan a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation of this region.

The group is passionate about future land area use planning and has dedicated a vast amount of time, effort and resources to the preservation of the unique foreshore vegetation of the area. 2395 volunteer hours were committed to the project between January and December 2009. To date, the group has managed and rehabilitated a total area of 32,959 square metres.

The group has developed a strong presence and plays an active role in the management of the region, contributing to public forums and meetings, providing information and alternatives to proposed infrastructure suggestions and educating local residents as to the values of the area.

The group has been actively involved in the development and implementation of the City of Stirling’s Coastal Foreshore Action Plan and also contributed to the broader scale Ecological Assessment and Management of Coastal Natural Areas in the Swan Region by participating in the biodiversity assessment of the local area and the identification of rehabilitation priorities. As a result of this project, there has been a significant increase in plant survival rates.

Key achievements of the group include the use of aerial mapping of the coastline, the development and implementation of a series of education activities with Edith Cowan University and participation in the Department of Education Community Service Program to improve the visual amenity of the coastline in coordination with local schools. SNEC has also planted 8,800 native seedlings, removed weed infestations by hand totalling more than 780 bags and installed 180 square metres of weed matting. The group continues to maintain and monitor all of the project sites, and are actively assessing surrounding areas with a view to linking existing rehabilitation efforts with future projects.

The Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare