The objective of the Peel Waterways Foreshore Protection and Rehabilitation Project is to deliver a co-ordinated foreshore protection program.

Issue:

That without corrective action, the Peel Waterways will not be able to sustain the increased recreational demands of expected population growth.  Under such stress, the environment will decline further unless resources are found for action in the catchment to improve water quality throughout the system.

Purpose:

To implement key rehabilitation actions recommended within:

• Serpentine River Management Plan (Water and Rivers Commission, 1998);
• Reserve 34177 Management Plan [draft] (City of Mandurah [CoM], 1999);
• Island Point to Kooljerrenup Management Plan (CoM, 2004);
• Reserves 860 and 44657 Management Plan (CoM 2004);
• Mandurah Foreshore Focus 2020 (City of Mandurah has $130,000 budgeted in 2004/05 to prepare a plan for the foreshore areas from the Peel Inlet entrance channel to the bypass bridge. State Government has committed $15,000 and the Commonwealth Government has committed $100,000 towards the project).

Problem:

Government agencies at all levels have invested significant funds (approximately $300,000 cash and in-kind) to develop the above plans with an aim to protecting the Peel waterways and its associated assets*.  However, insufficient funds are available to implement these plans within a timeframe that will enable corrective actions at a rate commensurate with the pressures being placed upon the waterways.

Assets:

The Peel Yalgorup System is an internationally recognised wetland with environmental, social and economic assets that are the basis of the Region’s culture.  These incude the largest commercial estuarine fishery in W.A., a significant recreational fishery, recreational boating (motor and non-powered), passive and active recreation and nature based tourism (bird watching [Creery Wetlands], European and Indigenous Heritage).