Your Neighbourhood
WORSENING BLOOMS of Lyngbya have been smothering large areas of seagrass in Roebuck Bay, posing a threat to the Bay’s remarkable marine biodiversity. Lyngbya blooms are linked to runoff and polluted groundwater. Pollutants such as wastewater, fertiliser, garden waste, chemicals, litter, animal faeces, carwash detergents and back-flushed pool water enter Roebuck Bay directly through our stormwater drains during rainfall. Similarly, fertiliser and sewage enter the Bay indirectly, leaching through our soils into groundwater that flows into Roebuck Bay and Cable Beach. These nutrients help Lyngbya grow and spread.
How your neighbourhood can help
Rubbish
Get involved in cleanups of Broome ie Clean Up Australia Day »
Make sure nieghbourhood rubbish or garden waste doesn’t end up in stormwater drains.
If you see a stormwater drain dumper, report them to the Shire.
Clearing
Make sure loose pindan soil from land clearing doesn’t wash or blow onto the road or into stormwater drains. If a development is causing a large amount of erosion to flow onto roads in your suburb, report it to the Shire or to Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Animal faeces
Compost or throw in the bin as decaying animal faeces contribute nutrients that can wash into drains.
Adopt a drain
Care for a stormwater drain near your home. Bare drains convey stormwater, nutrients and pindan into the Bay too quickly. Plants absorb nutrients and slow water. Ask the Shire to help your neighbourhood revegetate a drain. Oh, and no motorbikes or wheelers in the drains.
Tree Planting and Weeding
Get involved in tree planting and weeding days held by the Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals and keep our coastal vine thickets and bushland thriving.
Write Lettters
Write to the Shire re upgrading Broome’s stormwater drains to reduce nutrients and pindan flowing into Roebuck Bay. This has been achieved in Perth with $4 million grant to create nutrient stripping wetlands and restore tributary vegetation to remove nutrients.
Pollution
Report any pollution incident and here is the contact list »