A number of endangered species and threatened ecological communities throughout the Fremantle electorate will benefit from much-needed local conservation efforts this winter, with support from the Communities Environment Programme.
From Rottnest Island’s salt marshes to the remnant pockets of Banksia and Tuart woodlands across Cockburn, there will be flurry of on-ground works focused on native plant revegetation, invasive weed removal, seed collection and propagation, and habitat expansion for native animals.
In the Fremantle electorate, there are 55 threatened species (see attached) – among them the Fairy Tern, three species of Black Cockatoo, the Western Ringtail Possum, the Quokka, the Australian native bee, and a range of native orchids – two threatened ecological communities (Tuart Woodlands and Forests, and Banksia Woodlands), and four Nationally Important Wetlands.
Not surprisingly there was keen interest from the environmentally active Fremantle folk in the inaugural round of the Communities Environment Programme, with funding sought exceeding the $150,000 available by a factor of almost 2:1.
Comment attributable to Josh Wilson MP:
I have been really impressed by the careful planning and volunteer engagement involved in all these projects that comprise vital conservation and rehabilitation work.
The variety of hands-on projects will expand community-level conservation efforts, which of course is critical to the restoration of our environment and protection of threatened species, but also to the return of community participation and confidence following the COVID-19 crisis and our first national climate change catastrophe – the summer of bushfires.
Comment attributable to Kelli Featherstone, convenor Friends of Clontarf Hill:
Clontarf Hill is unique in that it has amazing views across the Indian Ocean and contains one of the last remaining stands of old-growth Tuart trees in the Fremantle area. This forms part of essential habitat linkages for native flora, fauna and birds but over time, weeds have taken over preventing native plants to thrive.
These weeds need to be controlled as a matter of priority if the reserve is to recover its original vegetation and biological values.
| ORGANISATION | PROJECT | AMOUNT |
| Fremantle Industrial Arts Quarter | Citizen science project to create habitat for micro-bats and endangered native bees | $8,000 |
| Mater Christi CPS | Restoration of ‘Bush Forever’ Banksia woodland | $5,000 |
| APACE Inc | Conservation workshops for local groups involved in restoration of 50ha of bushland in Fremantle electorate | $20,000 |
| Friends of South Bank | Weeding and planting project | $10,000 |
| Spearwood Alternative School | Bushland revegetation | $12,000 |
| Friends of Sir Frederick Samson Park | Bushland restoration | $10,000 |
| Native ARC | Threatened species conservation | $18,000 |
| Booyeembara Friends Group | Revegetation of Tuart woodland | $10,000 |
| Friends of Clontarf Hill | 6.4ha weed control and education project | $11,000 |
| The Wetlands Centre Cockburn | Revegetation and frog habitat support | $15,000 |
| Friends of Hollis Park | 3,500 seedling revegetation project | $6,000 |
| Rottnest Foundation | Restoration and protection of salt lake wetlands | $18,000 |
| Cockburn Community Wildlife Corridor | Seed collection and rubbish removal across 27ha | $5,000 |