Lyngbya control
Sep 6 2021
Welcome news
Roebuck Bay Working Group continues its outstanding work, with an innovative Science on the Broome Coast series, a popular Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest, a cool as can be sign on the foreshore of Roebuck Bay and a Coastal Garden book that is creating a positive trend toward endemic gardens in the coastal town of Broome.
Read all our news in the latest Roebuck Bay Working Group e Newsletter »
Jun 29 2021
Composting Helps Roebuck Bay
Jardine Macdonald, a hydrogeologist and Program Manager for Rangelands NRM, is passionate about how soil health and composting can help Roebuck Bay. Jardine has provided a fantastic power point for those who missed out on the presentation in the Science on the Broome Coast series and wish to get into Soil Health and composting »
Kandy Curran has also provided a hyperlink to the FREE garden book produced by Roebuck Bay Working Group, Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome on the Dampier peninsula » 
The local coastal plants (endemics) selected, thrive in Broome soils and climate, most are cyclone resistant, require less water than introduced plants and resistant to tropical pests. The book includes plants to avoid – with many weeds in Broome, escaped garden exotics.
Funded by Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government Landcare Program.
Apr 30 2021
Soil Health and Compost
Soil Health and Compost
Presenter Jardine Macdonald
Presenter Jardine Macdonald is a hydrogeologist and Program Manager for Rangelands NRM, and a passionate advocate for soil health and regenerative agriculture.
Jardine will explain how to make compost and get the rewards in your garden and Roebuck Bay.
Kandy Curran will also speak about a FREE garden book produced by Roebuck Bay Working Group, Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome on the Dampier peninsula
The size of a mini iPad, the book provides practical advice on growing a waterwise garden that benefits your wallet and Ramsar listed Roebuck Bay. Coastal Gardens online is smartphone friendly »
The local coastal plants (endemics) selected, thrive in Broome soils and climate, most are cyclone resistant, require less water than introduced plants and resistant to tropical pests. The book includes plants to avoid – with many weeds in Broome, escaped garden exotics.
All participants have the opportunity to win a a Tumbleweed Cafe plus 1,000 earthworms – donated by Bunnings Broome
Where Hall 2, Lotteries House
20 Cable Beach Road East, Broome
When Thursday 11th May 5.30-7.00 pm
Free Gold coin donations welcome
www.roebuckbay.org.au
Feb 18 2021
Seagrass Volunteers Wanted
Seagrasses are one of the most important plants on the planet. They are the basis of the food web in the ocean, absorb nutrients from runoff and stabilise sediment. Seagrass is food for turtles and dugongs and habitat for thousands of smaller marine animals, playing a vital role in sustaining fisheries.
Nov 6 2020
Coastal Garden book for Broome
A new gardening book has been produced by Roebuck Bay Working Group. Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome on the Dampier peninsula is available online 
The book provides practical advice on growing a waterwise garden that benefits your wallet and Broome’s coastal waters. Coastal Gardens is online and perfect on smartphones »
The local coastal plants (endemics) selected, thrive in Broome soils and climate, most are cyclone resistant, require less water than introduced plants and resistant to tropical pests. The book includes plants to avoid – with many weeds in Broome, escaped garden exotics.
Funded by State NRM with support from Royalties for Regions and Rangelands NRM through the Federal Government Landcare Program.
Here’s a great film on how to Garden for Broome’s saltwater country »
Oct 8 2019
State & Territory Coastcare Award
Roebuck Bay Working Group has won the 2019 State & Territory Virgin Coastcare Award
The award focused on the collaborative Keep Our Bay Clean campaign (2005-19) to reduce anthropogenic nutrient sources contributing to Lyngbya majuscula blooms which threaten Roebucks Bay’s biodiversity, indigenous heritage and economic values. The entry is now a contender for a 2020 National Coastcare Award.
Some of the awesome members of the Roebuck Bay Working Group, with Kandy Curran and Dr Alexander Watson (Chairperson) in the foreground.
Thanks to the RBWG Management Committee members who supported the Keep Our Bay Clean projects and grants and Yawuru Rangers who have been involved in all Keep Our Bay Clean projects, along with staff at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Moreover, the Shire of Broome for their collaboration on the McMahon Reserve project to plant the riparian zone of an upper catchment drain with a bush tucker trail.
Special thanks to Grant Pearson who coordinated the first Lyngbya Forum and got Dr Sora Estrella on board to undertake post doctorate studies on the effects of nutrient enrichment on toxic blooms of Lyngbya and benthic invertebrates and migratory shorebirds of the Roebuck Bay Ramsar site. Hydrogeologist Dr Ryan Vogwill, who helped run the Lyngbya forums and supervise four post graduate studies on groundwater and surface water nutrient inputs to Roebuck Bay.
School children planted hundreds of native plants along the McMahon walkway and stormwater drain with help from Yawuru Ranger Curtis Robinson. Kandy Curran
These independent peer reviewed studies were critical drawing attention to RBWG concerns regarding; nutrient seepage into groundwater from the unlined ponds at Broome South Waste Water Treatment Plant, adjacent golf course irrigated with treated wastewater; and the aging network of stormwater drains discharging into Roebuck Bay.
Thank you to our Sponsors: the Shire of Broome who sponsored travel for Kandy Curran to attend the awards, Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Inspiring Australia and State NRM.
Aug 21 2019
Seagrass: Invisible thread that weaves Roebuck Bay together
The Broome Seagrass Monitoring Program is Broome’s most successful citizen scientist program gathering vital information on seagrass health in Roebuck Bay.
Program coordinator, Fiona West and her team will share information and experiences. An informative and entertaining evening guaranteed. Join the team for muffins, tea and coffee at the end of the presentation BYO keep cup.
The Science on the Broome Coast event is an initiative of the Roebuck Bay Working Group and Yawuru Land and Sea unit and sponsored by Inspiring Australia, Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, University of Notre Dame, Broome Community Resource Centre and National Science Week.
Where: The Hall, University of Notre Dame, 88 Guy St Broome
When: Thursday 22, 6 – 7:30pm
Free: Gold coin donations welcome
Feb 10 2019
Coastal planting guide for Broome
Hoorah! Roebuck Bay Working Group has produced an inspiring booklet on local coastal plants.
Coastal Gardens – A Planting Guide for Broome provides advice on growing a waterwise garden that benefits your wallet and Broome’s coastal waters. The book is online and suitable for smartphones.
https://roebuckbay.org.au/p…/coastal-gardens-web-version.pdf
The local coastal plants (endemics) in the book, thrive in Broome soils and climate. Most are cyclone resistant, require less water than introduced plants and resistant to tropical pests. Local coastal plants have defence mechanisms to cope with common pests, thereby require fewer pesticides than introduced species. Less pesticides used in your garden, means less chemicals entering Broome’s coastal waters via roadside stormwater drains. The book also includes the plants to avoid – with many of the weeds we see in Broome, escaped garden exotics.
The booklet was launched on February 8th, 2019 with books available from Rangelands NRM office at Lotteries House, 257 Cable Beach Road, Broome. Gold coin donations welcome 🙂
This project is funded by State NRM with support from Royalties for Regions and Rangelands NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Feb 5 2018
Sewerage plant overflows
During heavy rainfall in late Jan 2018, wastewater overflowed from the Broome South Waste Water Treatment Plant into Roebuck Bay for three days. The ponds overflowed again into the Bay mid February 2018. The Shire is water quality testing tor public health impacts from the contamination.
Its been a phenomenally wet start to 2018 with Broome recording its wettest January of all time (941mm). Unfortunately, the heavy rain and wind associated with the low, has bought down a lot of trees and worst of all, the Broome South Waste Water Treatment Plant overflowed into Roebuck Bay, again. Watch a short film by the ABC on the overflow of wastewater and read the stories below…
- Waste Water Plant overflows into Roebuck Bay ABC Jan »
- Broome wettest January in History West Australian Jan »
- Sewage in Roebuck Bay ABC Jan »
- Warning from sewage overflow Shire of Broome Jan »
- Recent floods and wastewater Water Corporation Jan »
- Water Corporation treating Yawuru Roebuck Bay Marine Park as sewage pond Environs Kimberley Feb »
Nov 29 2017
Trail healing community and bay
If you live near the McMahon walkway, you will receive a nice surprise on your gate or porch 
Fridge magnets have been delivered with tips to keep the walkway and stormwater drain clean and green. Roebuck Bay Working Group, Broome Shire and Parks and Wildlife Service Yawuru Rangers helped hundreds of young people in the area plant a bushtucker trail beside the walkway and drain.
More good news, Broome Shire Council, a partner in the project, has repaired the broken sections of footpath, litter and garden waste in the drain have been removed and the new plants reticulated and mulched. Please ‘do your bit’ to keep the McMahon walkway clean and green
Watch a wonderful short film about the project – Bushtucker trail heals community and bay »
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