RBWG History

Roebuck Bay Working formed in 2004 to work collaboratively toward responsible management and protection of Roebuck Bay’s natural and cultural values. © Rod Hartvigsen.

RECOGNISING that Roebuck Bay was without management plans to protect its high values, the Roebuck Bay Working Group formed in 2004 with the objective of developing a values based community planning process to protect, restore and maintain the catchment into the future. RBWG, a not-for-profit community group of 36 members, won a WA Coastal Award in 2007 and WA Regional Community Award in 2013 for outstanding work.

With a strong emphasis on partnerships, RBWG works with Yawuru Traditional Owners, and community, non-government organisations, industry, agencies and researchers to support Yawuru’s work to build capacity and education, and affect change ‘on-ground’ to protect, restore and maintain the Roebuck Bay catchment.

• 2004 Designed an integrated planning process guided by Yawuru and community.
• 2004 Raised awareness of the need for shorebird conservation and protection.
• 2005 Mapped community values for Roebuck Bay.
• 2006 Produced a Roebuck Bay Issues Paper »
• 2008 Provided input for a Roebuck Bay Ecological Character Description.
• 2009 Produced Roebuck Bay Interim Management Guidelines (brochures) »
• 2009 Produced a Draft Management Plan for the Northern Shores of Roebuck Bay »
• 2009 Produced 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, signage and blinds on Roebuck Bay’s cultural /ecological values.
• Co-hosting ‘Celebrate the Bay’ events in Broome.
• Media stories – Broome Advertiser, Coastlines, Broome Visitor Guide, Rangelands eNews
• Presentations about Roebuck Bay projects in schools, libraries, events, conferences.
• RBWG E Newsletters »
• RBWG website » RBWG Facebook page »
• Interactive web / social media programs on Lyngbya  seagrass  shorebirds.
• Regular features in Broome Advertiser, Science Network WA 
• A popular annual *2015-21) Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest to celebrate the natural, cultural and heritage values of Roebuck Bay , Broome and Kimberley WA

The three state awards (2007, 2016, 2019) RBWG has received, are largely due to the collaborative work undertaken over the last twelve years to reduce nutrients entering Roebuck Bay and blooms of toxic Lyngbya majuscula blooms:

• Co-hosted five Lyngbya Forums/Workshops, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014.
• Developed a Lyngbya Contingency Plan for Roebuck Bay »
• Four Rangelands NRM projects to nutrients entering Roebuck Bay.
• Branded educational materials with a Keep our Bay Clean logo
• Home delivered 5200 fridge magnets (letter wrap around) with tips to reduce runoff.
• Stencilled Broome footpaths (beside drains) with Keep Our Bay Clean logo.
• Developed Fertilise Wise brochure to reduce nutrient enriched runoff.
• Developed Wash Cars the Roebuck Bay Friendly Way card to reduce nutrient runoff.
• Developed infographic blinds on Lyngbya/coastal gardening to reduce nutrient runoff.
• Held three Gardening the Roebuck Bay Friendly Way events to reduce nutrient runoff.
• Developed Drain Plant List to identify species that absorb nutrients, slow water.
• Developed three films on Lyngbya, Roebuck Bay values Gardens for saltwater country
• Regular features Broome Advertiser, Science Network WA on Lyngbya and nutrients.
• Lobbied for stormwater drain audit, re-engineering/replanting of degraded drains.
• Lobbied for regular scans of Roebuck Bay for Lyngbya (Parks and Wildlife).
• Lobbied for five post graduate studies on water quality issues and Lyngbya;
• Hosted presentation Distribution, movement of groundwater of the Broome Peninsula
• Hosted Lyngbya Forum October 2014 (RBWG, Parks and Wildlife, Environs Kimberley).
• Delivered septic fridge magnets with tips to prevent seepage/overflow of wastewater.
• Developed Coastal Gardening card to reduce nutrient runoff.
• Published Coastal gardens A planting guide for Broome (available on smartphones) to reduce nutrient enriched garden runoff entering stormwater drains which discharge into Roebuck Bay.

RBWG works hard to promote science to contribute to better management and protection of Roebuck Bay and the Kimberley coast.

• Each year RBWG produces a citizen science calendar and cards for projects monitoring benthos, dolphins, seagrass, shorebirds, turtles and debris
• Roebuck Bay Research Committee founded (2013) to encourage ethical research, bridge knowledge gaps, generate reputable scientific information.
• Science on the Broome Coast series 2014-17.
• Regular science stories in Broome Advertiser, social media, Rangelands eNews

Keep Our Bay Clean project aims to reduce runoff entering Roebuck Bay and triggering Lyngbya blooms.

Read Coastal Gardens A planting guide for Broome