RBWG History

RECOGNISING that Roebuck Bay was without management plans to protect its high values, the Roebuck Bay Working Group (RBWG) formed in 2004 with the objective of developing a values based community planning process to protect, restore and maintain the catchment into the future. The RBWG, which is a not-for-profit community based group of 45 members, won a State Coastal Award in 2007 for their outstanding work.

With a strong emphasis on partnerships, the RBWG has been working with landholders, community groups, non-government organisations, industry, government to develop management plans, build capacity and education, and affect change ‘on-ground’ to protect, restore and maintain the Roebuck Bay catchment.

• 2004 Designing an integrated planning process guided by Yawuru and inclusive of the community
• 2004 Raising awareness of the need for shorebird conservation and protection
• 2005 Mapping community values for Roebuck Bay
• 2006 Producing a Roebuck Bay Issues Paper »
• 2008 Providing input for a Roebuck Bay Ecological Character Description (baseline data necessary for managing a Ramsar Site) (awaiting publication)
• 2009 Producing a Lyngbya Contingency Plan for Roebuck Bay »
• 2009 Producing Roebuck Bay Interim Management Guidelines (brochures) »
• 2009 Producing a Draft Management Plan for the Northern Shores of Roebuck Bay »
• 2009 Producing a Preliminary Draft Roebuck Bay Ramsar Site Management Plan »

The RBWG works hard to increase understanding of Roebuck Bay’s many values and build local involvement in its care. Examples include:

• Flyers and signage on Roebuck Bay’s cultural and ecological values
• Co-hosting ‘Celebrate the Bay’ events in Broome
• Co-hosting community forums about the Lyngbya threat to Roebuck Bay
• Entries in WA Coastal Awards (4)
• Media stories about Roebuck Bay – regular ‘On the Bay’ column in Broome Advertiser
• Promoting Benthos, Dolphin, Seagrass, Shorebird & Turtle Monitoring, Clean up Bay Days
• Presentations about Roebuck Bay projects in schools, libraries, events, conferences
• Production of RBWG E Newsletters »
• Development of a RBWG website »
• Development of a RBWG facebook page »
• Development of a Keep Our Bay Clean Campaign » to reduce nutrients and sediments from entering the Bay and triggering further Lyngbya blooms (Mermaid’s Hair)