Newsletter - Spring Edition - SERCUL

SERCUL ProjectsSERCUL TeamBuildingPlanting DayThe SERCUL staff held their annualteam-building planting day on the 23rdAugust. Twelve hundred seedlingswere planted at the Urban WaterwaysRenewal site in Armadale along theWungong River.A site tour of the Southern River UWRsites was also held.Beckenham Open SpaceOver the last season at the Beckenham Open Space (BOS), we have engaged with anumber of community groups including many school students for planting opportunities.The sessions were enjoyed by everybody involved and a total of 3640 plants wereinstalled.Weeding activities have also continued due to the beautiful sunny winter we areexperiencing.A big thank you to all our volunteers who have assisted with both planting and weedingat the BOS and around the homestead gardens. They are sure to be a success with thelovely rain we are having.Works have commenced on the new restoration site ‘Wimbledon Street Wetland’ onthe Yule Brook opposite the SERCUL homestead across the Kenwick Link. This is ahighly disturbed area along the Brook. Weed control has been the main concentrationtargeting grassspecies. Earthworkscommenced lastmonth and wehave assisted in theremoval of willowtrees as well asscalping the soilto construct thewetland.Yule Brook in flood, August 2013UWR Southern RiverSERCUL has completed the rejuvenation and restoration ofproject sites within the Urban Waterway in the Southern RiverCatchment.After three challenging and rewarding years of Urban WaterwayManagement in the Southern River catchment, the project hasachieved: the creation of seven wetlands; installation of fiverock riffles; 223 650 local native plants installed; 58 hectares ofweed control; and the removal of 3500 m 3 of sediment, weedsand rubbish. This has been achieved through a successfulpartnership between the Australian Government (SEWPAC),SERCUL, City of Armadale, Department of Water, Swan RiverTrust, Water Corporation and the community.Community groups such as the Armadale Gosnells LandcareGroup, Friends of Forrestdale Lake and Friends of PalominoReserve have been pivotal in engaging the community inthe project and delivering on-ground results including theengagement of 973 volunteers who have contributed 3843 hourstowards completing the project.A big thanks to Neil Burbridge, Shane Asmus and Ken Goode4Riverside Lane constructed wetland, Wungong Riverfrom the City of Armadale whose support has extended theproject to include two additional project sites on the intersectionof Lake and Ranford Roads. The City of Armadale have alsocommitted to constructing a heritage trail through this area.Other project extensions have included a hydrocarbon surveythrough the Kelmscott Industrial area to identify sources of oilpollution in the catchment. The success of this project hasseen a similar survey conducted by SERCUL in the MaddingtonIndustrial area.Thanks to Dan Walker from the City of Armadale for his dedicationand ongoing support of the project. Thanks also to Karl Karufrom Urban Ecosystems for his design advice, supervision of siteworks and commitment to see these projects through from startto finish.The project would not have happened without the foresight andcommitment to the environment of Ron Van Delft whom sadlypassed away in 2012. Wehope we have done hisvision for these sites justiceand provided a fitting legacyto Ron and others whospend their lives trying toprotect and improve thelocal environment.We hope that it’s onlythe beginning of UrbanWaterway Renewal in thisregion.Jute matting installation atThird Road project site