Where once ancient Banksia and giant Tuart woodlands stood and the critically endangered western ringtail possum, black cockatoo and hairy marron frolicked, is a degraded and dirty stream. The Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation Project rehabilitates a culturally and ecologically significant riparian area and creates much needed habitat for endangered species.
The Naturaliste Habitat Corridor is a degraded riparian area which flows across the Naturaliste Estate and into Station Gully Drain (Anniebrook Creek) which then drains into the historically and ecologically important Toby Inlet at Anniebrook, WA.
The Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation Project seeks to restore the vital natural stream, provide habitat for rare and endangered native flora and fauna and improve the water quality flowing into Station Gully Drain.
Erosion, salinisation, compaction, acidification, over clearing and over grazing have caused substantial water problems within the stream and soil, food and nutrition problems in the paddocks surrounding the Corridor.
The Naturaliste Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation Project (NHCRP) seeks to restore the natural stream which flows though the Naturaliste Estate, improve the water quality flowing into Station Gully Drain and create a wildlife corridor for the estimated 25 species of indigenous fauna once abundant in the stream.
Through the innovative synthesis of topography, hydrology and vegetation, the project transforms a degraded riparian corridor into a 4.5 hectare “living filter” designed to:
The southwest of Western Australia is a biogeographic region noted as one of only 36 biodiversity hotspots on Earth.
Recognising that wetland and aquatic habitats hold the greatest conservation significance for the Cape Naturaliste eco-region, restoration of the Habitat Corridor has historical and cultural relevance in this new era of eco-consciousness.
The 50 hectares of paddocks surrounding the extended stream is now considered a wetland however, in pre-colonial days, the promiscuous flooding of what is now livestock pasture only happened in periods of exceptionally high rainfall.
Re-habilitating the original colonial-era stream will prevent the “wetland” flooding of surrounding paddocks and result in the re-establishment of the great diversity of habitat zones and elements once resident within the stream.
This variety of habitats will support a diverse range of fauna and flora known to be, or thought to be, in the area.
The Corridor Rehabilitation Project is working to protect many unique species currently at risk in the Cape Naturaliste region.
Threatened native fish species are also a focus as an indicator of the ecological health of waterways that feed into Station Gully Drain and, ultimately, Toby Inlet.
The high prevalence of rare and endemic fauna and flora in the Cape Naturaliste area emphasises the need to restore habitat corridors and preserve remaining stands of intact vegetation communities.
Through partnerships with State government agencies, local government and organisations such as Toby Inlet Catchment Group, Cape to Cape Catchments Group, Southwest Australian Floristic Region Association and Birdlife WA, the rehabilitation project encourages hands-on engagement with the local Cape Naturaliste community.
FAUNA KNOWN TO BE IN THE AREA
FAUNA THOUGHT TO BE IN THE AREA
FLORA
The area supports a highly diverse range of flora species and many occurrences of declared rare flora, including a number of orchids. These include critically endangered species such as the Dunsborough spider orchid (Caladenia visidescens).
There are also a number of flora species endemic to Cape Naturaliste including, the area emblem, the bottlebrush Calothamnus graniticus subsp. Graniticus, plus the “Majestic Six”, the six famous forest giants:
The high prevalence of rare and endemic fauna and flora in the Cape Naturaliste area emphasises the need to restore habitat corridors and preserve remaining stands of intact vegetation communities.
We believe in common sense environmentalism – protecting photosynthesis processes, regenerative farming, natural habitats, wildlife, sustaining ecosystems, clean waterways and preventing pollution.
The Naturaliste Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation Plan (NHCRP) is a scaled drawing of ecological rehabilitation showing, in specific terms, how to build a “living water filter” and wildlife habitat.
In order to fully understand the existing conditions within the stream, and knowing that effective and meaningful intervention requires sufficient data about the existing underlying stream conditions, a thorough analysis has been conducted by a leading ecological consultant and affiliated consultants.
Out of this analysis has emerged a plan to rehabilitate and manage the Naturaliste Habitat Corridor using an integrated approach.
You can download the Naturaliste Habitat Corridor Rehabilitation Plan here, but in summary it addresses:
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