Lyngbya control
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 »
Jun 27 2017
RBWG eNewsletter
Read about the innovative work of the Roebuck Bay Working Group in the latest RBWG eNewsletter June 2017.
As you will read, we have plenty going on that you can get involved in – a Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest on August 5, 2017. If you are a filmmaker and wish to get involved, please do, but remember, the short films are due in on July 15, 2017. You can submit your film through Film Freeway on http://mudandsaltwater.org.au/entering-films/
The Roebuck Bay Working Group also runs a Science on the Broome Coast series. Check out the presentations coming up and come along, they are all free events and you will discover a lot about Roebuck Bay and the Kimberley coast.
Enjoy reading our eNewsletter and let us know if you want any further information about any of the events we put on.
May 25 2017
Ten year community seagrass project
With the help of community volunteers, valuable scientific data has been methodically collected over the last ten years on the health of Roebuck Bay’s seagrass meadows.
Marine Biologist Dr Malcolm Lindsay and Julia Rau, project coordinator of the Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project, will present findings and launch an easily understood 10-Year Report Card that will assist with the management and protection of the seagrass meadows in Roebuck Bay.
Where The Hall, University of Notre Dame, 88 Guy St Broome – see Campus map »
When Wednesday July 12 from 6 – 7.30pm Free Event Gold coin donations welcome 🙂
Nov 23 2016
Meeting re seeping wastewater ponds
Water Corp are providing an information session on projects to reduce wastewater seepage from Broome South Wastewater Treatment ponds. The Roebuck Bay Working Group handed a letter to Minister Davies on Sept 28, 2016 to request the relining of all holding ponds (primary, secondary, tertiary) at Broome South Waste Water Treatment Plant – as a high priority – to halt the seepage of nutrients into Roebuck Bay.
The presentation is Tuesday Nov 29, 5.30-7.30pm. This is an important issue for Roebuck Bay’s water quality and marine ecology, so ask any questions you have at the presentation.
Oct 7 2016
Tackling litter
There is positive momentum (monthly clean-ups) to reduce debris in Roebuck Bay. To keep the momentum, RBWG and Tangaroa Blue are holding a Litter and Pollution Reduction Workshop to reduce marine debris. As Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue said, “If all we do is clean-up, that’s all we’ll ever do. Understanding where litter and marine debris is coming from, enables us to tackle the release at the source, reducing the amount of litter entering the beautiful Broome environment in the first place.”
FREE WORKSHOP coordinated by Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue
October 20, 9-1pm
Morning tea and lunch provided
RSVP info@roebuckbay.org.au
Mar 4 2016
Superb film for saltwater country
Gardens for Broome’s saltwater country is a new short film that focuses on the remarkable life in Roebuck Bay. THis wonderful film also sends a positive message about what our community can do to keep these coastal waters productive and clean so all life can thrive. The film was premiered at the inaugural 2015 MUD AND SALTwater SHORT FILM FEST in Broome during the Shinju Matsuri Festival. The film was made by Mark Jones, with aerial footage by Shayne Thomson for the Roebuck Bay Working Group. Viewers are warned that the film has images and voices of a deceased person. Thank you Rangelands NRM for funding this outstanding short film through funding from the Federal Government Landcare Programme.
Gardens for Broome’s saltwater country from Roebuck Bay Working Group on Vimeo.
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