Greg Warburton
In 2022, the Toodyay Friends of the River (TFOR) successfully sourced external funding for a project to address issues associated with the town’s main stormwater discharge. The outlet is situated on the riverbank below the Anglican Church land.
Every winter, the flow would wash rubbish and pollutants into the river and cause severe erosion to the fire break emergency access.
An engineered design was created to slow the water flow, trap garbage, and filter contaminants.
The final construction incorporated extensive rock pitching and the installation of two culverts with both head and wing walls. A specialist contractor was contracted to do the work.
Mass plantings of riparian providence species were done by TFOR volunteers. The seedlings were provided by our Seed Orchard Group.
TFOR continued to regularly maintain the site by clearing trapped litter, controlling weeds and doing follow-up plantings. However, the late and heavy rains this winter brought down a large quantity of gravel and sandy sediments, which completely blocked one culvert, forcing the water to flow over the access way, causing erosion damage.
The problem had not occurred before, and indicated earth disturbance upstream was the cause.
A hardy few ventured out on a very stormy Sunday morning in September and, with shovels and wheelbarrows, managed to clear most of the blockage, although more work is required.
We take pleasure in welcoming a number of new members, which is encouraging for the future of the group. One of our new members, Kai, has been a star recruit as his company, Avon Years and Maintenance Services, is available for river care work.
Recently completed was an extensive program of seasonal weed spraying along the Bilya walk track. This will be followed up with brush cutting in late spring/early summer to ensure the track surface is clear for the many users who enjoy this popular six-kilometre river walk.
I had the pleasure of joining members of Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation (NKAC) and visiting Tidy Towns judges last month to inspect project sites along the Bilya track and Noongar trail. We wish NKAC well for their submission for this prestigious competition award.
Our newsletter compiler and editor, Gary, has had some delays lately in getting the spring issue out. He has been recovering from a broken foot, and his volunteer special event work with Australian Wildlife Conservancy takes him to various locations across the country. Not to mention new computer problems, but we are assured ‘Biddip’ is not far away.
Another dedicated member, Desrae, has offered her expertise in coordinating and conducting our fundraising event this year. Desrae’s dedication to sitting outside IGA for a-day-and-a-half selling raffle tickets has yielded rich rewards over the years for the various community groups of which she is a member.
TFOR will once again have a display at the Agricultural Show on October 11, and as such, there will be no working bee for that month. Come and see us in the ‘Environment Matters’ marquee.