Projects & Progress

Following guidelines for best-practice contained within documents such as the Department of Environment and Conservation’s (now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’) Swan Estuary Reserve Management Plan 1999 – 2009, volunteers from SERAG Inc. work steadily to improve the health of three very important areas that have been set aside by the wider community for the protection of flora and fauna - Milyu, Alfred Cove and Pelican Point - and adjacent areas of remnant bushland and marine parks.

Strong support for and participation in our efforts reflects the Swan River Trust's research into community values:

The natural areas along the river are really important and should be retained (95.6%), and
It is acceptable for certain parts of the river foreshore to be closed off for the protection and rehabilitation of the natural environment (92.5%).

With the approval of DBCA and with the particular needs of each site in mind, projects are developed and applications for funding from various government and non-government bodies are prepared and submitted. Funding is generally used to support weed-management, for the purchase of appropriate sedges, shrubs and trees for re-vegetation, and for educative signage to inform the community of the ecological values of the areas and how to care for them. On occasions it is deemed necessary, we may also apply for funding for infrastructure such as viewing platforms or fencing to reduce human impact on sensitive areas.

SERAG volunteers are joined throughout the year by university student volunteers, corporate volunteers, Conservation Volunteers Australia and community volunteers to improve the health of three significant areas - Milyu, Alfred Cove and Pelican Point - and their adjacent remnant bushland and marine parks.

Most grants must be matched by an equal contribution from the recipient - in our case in volunteer labour - so effectively the worth of a grant to the environment is doubled.

Other volunteers are very welcome to join these teams, so please reach out if you can help.

SERAG’s Actions in the Community

Grants are used to foster the resilience of the reserves in the face of environmental and community pressures. As the reserves are relatively small and the pressures large, natural restoration processes are often thwarted, necessitating support through various bushcare initiatives.

Community education projects are similarly important, and over the years SERAG has organised a number of community events and displays to celebrate and encourage community knowledge and appreciation of these special areas. For example, Overwintering: Summer on the Swan was a year-long project drawing community attention to the importance of the river as habitat for trans-equatorial migratory species, culminating with an exhibition of original prints at Nyisztor Studio to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day 2020.

SERAG becomes conscientiously involved in community consultation processes associated with management planning and review, periodically organised by managing authorities. When the need arises, SERAG will actively engage in advocacy in support of or against a particular issue that we believe impacts on the well-being of the natural values of the Swan River Estuary. (We campaigned strongly against the construction of an artificial wave park complex on the shores of the SEMP at Alfred Cove, for example.) We also initiate and contribute to relevant research projects.

The support of our membership and other community volunteers is vital to the success of these initiatives. Partnerships are developed between SERAG Inc. and corporate sponsors, and with other environmental or community groups to support these projects. Over the past few years many hundreds of school children, university students and corporate volunteers have joined with SERAG to contribute many thousands of hours caring for these unique and beautiful parts of the Swan River Estuary.

Understanding the importance of the sites, volunteers have willingly weeded, planted, mulched, installed fencing and erosion-mitigation structures, watered new plantings over hot summers, conducted guided tours and collected litter. We recognise that this is not easy work, so we are extremely encouraged by and grateful for such support.

As part of ongoing care for each Reserve, different teams of volunteers meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly to devote a few hours to removing weeds such as fleabane and wild radish, collecting litter, planting and other appropriate seasonal activities within their designated region.

Current Projects

A grant from SALP 2021 has been successful in allowing replanting to take place at the site of a fire at Pelican Point in the adjacent Bush Forever Site 402. A small NRM grant has enabled weed spraying by contractors to complement the hand-weeding efforts by SERAG volunteers along the Alfred Cove foreshore areas, whilst the three year Rivercare grant is finishing with planting and weeding on Tompkins Park East foreshore.

SERAG has made a submission to the City of Melville 10 Year Foreshore Master Plan for Attadale, Alfred Cove and Tompkins Park. The submission supports the main tenet of the Master Plan being the protection and enhancement of the Swan Estuary Marine Park foreshore. As in other areas bordering the Marine Park, the riparian margin is very narrow and susceptible to erosive forces associated with climate change. Given there is the easy possibility of widening this margin and thus strengthening its resilience, we are advocating for a comprehensive plan to secure the future well-being of the Swan Estuary Marine Park and the rich cultural and natural heritage values treasured by the wider community.

The outcome of the consultation process is due for release in November 2021 for final community input. We are supporting the efforts of the Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary.

With its effect on benthic health and resultant impacts on birdlife and other native fauna, we are also liaising with managing authorities to encourage improvement in the quality of stormwater draining into the Marine Park thorough the use of 'living streams'.

As mentioned above, one matter of great concern is the ongoing erosion of the already narrow riparian margin at each of the three sites. SERAG has undertaken erosion management at Pelican Point and at Attadale foreshore with the installation of biodegradable coir logs and large pots and hedge bags of mature sedges. SERAG will continue to request that DBCA investigates ways of stemming the destructive force of enhanced and resonated waves reflected from hard river edges as well as the waves from passing vessels which, when added to storm surges, is causing extreme erosion particularly at Pelican Point.

Alfred Cove

SERAG Inc. is supporting both the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the City of Melville to manage and restore large sections of the Alfred Cove A-Class Reserve and adjacent areas of remnant bushland - which together form part of Bush Forever Site 331 - through a regular commitment from volunteers and through particular projects for which we have sought funding.

We have recently concluded a survey of the coastal saltmarsh community bordering the Marine Park, and undertake monthly collections of bird data.

A 2018 grant through DBCA is assisting us to restore part of the very narrow margin of A-Class Reserve along the Attadale foreshore - a site abutting land used once as a rubbish dump and now an expanse of kikuyu for exercising dogs - heavily degraded with a plethora of seasonal and woody weeds, including Juncus acutis. A small grant from NRM is assisting in the treatment and replacement of weeds, including a large outbreak of Carex divisa on the Tompkins Park foreshore.

As in other areas bordering the Marine Park, the riparian margin is very narrow and susceptible to erosive forces associated with climate change. Given there is the easy possibility of widening the margin and thus strengthening its resilience, we are advocating for a comprehensive plan to be developed to secure the future well-being of the Swan Estuary Marine Park and the rich cultural and natural heritage values treasured by the wider community.

SERAG is extremely pleased that a proposal approved by the City of Melville to build an artificial surfing facility at Tompkins Park has been unsuccessful. However, we remain concerned that the Crown Land on which part of the proposed facility was to be built has not yet been drawn into the Conservation Estate, as has been recommended since the formation of the Swan Estuary Marine Park. We are hopeful that the current 10-year Alfred Cove/Attadale Foreshore Master Plan consultation will result in widening and strengthening of the foreshore vegetation buffer.

We are supporting the efforts of the Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary.

Projects: Before & After

Marine Park foreshore, Tompkins Park Alfred Cove. 2015 (L) and 2017 (R)

Alfred Cove A-Class Nature Reserve, Burke Drive. 2009 (L) and 2014 (R)

Marine Park foreshore, Tompkins Park East, in Applecross. Early 2018 (L) and late 2019 (R)

Milyu

Over recent years SERAG Inc. has worked closely with DBCA to restore and strengthen this narrow, highly vulnerable A-Class Nature Reserve next to the Kwinana Freeway in South Perth.

SERAG is supporting a long-term project funded by the Department of Transport and coordinated by DBCA to address erosion at Milyu by assisting in planting activities.

As the site is highly exposed to rubbish from storm-water drains, freeway traffic and recreational boating and fishing, a team of volunteers conducts a monthly cleanup of the foreshore and Reserve.

Our regular bushcare activities, with an emphasis on monthly litter collections, have now resumed after interruption by major Freeway infrastructure works.

Pelican Point

Funding has supported a long-term bushcare commitment to the part of Bush Forever Site 402 under the care of DBCA. This involves steadily replacing weeds with native vegetation, installing matting planted with sedges to manage erosion from boat-wash and winter storms, and implementing communication strategies to inform the wider community of the enormous importance of the Reserve.

One matter of critical importance has been the development of a comprehensive weed-management and bush-restoration plan that guides the steady improvement of vegetation which provides habitat for both local and migratory birds.

Apart from its small size and general degradation, increasing human disturbance has a concerning impact on the well-being of this Reserve.

With the removal (rather than replacement) of damaged sections of the fence which once protected the terrestrial section of the Marine Park, there has recently been a significant increase in the number of people - often with their unrestrained dogs - walking or jogging along the beach and up into the vegetation.

Unfortunately they are not only disturbing resting and foraging birds, but are also deterring nesting by shorebirds, which use simple shallows in the beach sand.

Kite-surfers, too, who inadvertently stray into the Reserve have significantly discouraged use of the Marine Park by birdlife, who confuse them with large predatory birds.

Community information strategies and infrastructure improvements will hopefully help to redress this problem.

Erosion is also currently a major threat to the terrestrial section of the Marine Park.

We are fortunate to have developed close ties with students studying at the University of Western Australia, which is adjacent to Pelican Point. Monthly bushcare sessions are organised and well-attended by students keen to help maintain this unique and vulnerable area.

Funding through the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) has seen a steady improvement in the health of vegetation, and the installation of a nesting platform for resident osprey. The platform was designed and constructed by local sculptor Tony Jones, using a light pole donated by DBCA, and recently 'upgraded' to include a cane basket woven by local artist Fiona Gavino, and a perch cantilevered beneath.

Artificial nesting boxes for micro-bats and Striated Pardalotes have been installed with great success.

Current restoration efforts are supported by funding from the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program.

Before & After

Osprey Tower Site - 2013 (L) and 2017 (R)

In the ‘after’ photo, native sedges in the foreground have replaced the South African Watsonia plants, and the River Gum in the background is thriving now, with native understory instead of the previous weedy understory.