Improvements flowing on Yakamia Creek
A new partnership aims to repair a highly degraded, culturally significant section of Yakamia Creek, contributing to improvements in water quality and ecological function along the waterway, as well as protecting habitat for wildlife.
In an exciting first for the region, South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc. and the City of Albany are partnering with Minderoo Foundation, the South Coast Environment Fund, and the state government’s Healthy Estuaries WA to repair a highly degraded, culturally significant section of Yakamia Creek.
At the official launch of the Yakamia Creek project on Thursday 24th March, South Coast NRM’s CEO Justin Bellanger praised the rehabilitation plans, saying “South Coast NRM is pleased to be able to coordinate this project with the City of Albany to continue the focus and improvements on Yakamia Creek.”
Minderoo Foundation’s Director of Building Communities, Louise Olney, shared these sentiments, adding that “At Minderoo we know a healthy, accessible environment is integral to thriving communities.
“Yakamia Creek demonstrates that great outcomes can be achieved at a community level, through collaboration between government, philanthropy, and not-for-profit sectors.”
Strongly linked to the Yakin (Noongar word meaning long-necked turtle), Yakamia Creek has been valued by Menang people for millennia. Over recent decades the creek has been impacted by modification and weed invasion.
With significant restoration works already completed, Yakamia Creek is part of a broader initiative to transform degraded sections into a ‘living stream’, thereby enhancing the ecological function of the waterway and improving habitat for the Western Long Neck Turtle and other wildlife. The newly announced Yakamia Creek project aims to improve a section located behind the City of Albany offices, with weed removal and terracing on the top section of the bank to enable replanting and maintenance access.
Healthy Estuaries WA’s Coordinator at the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Jennifer Stritzke, is excited to continue restoration works on Yakamia Creek, saying that “rehabilitation is vital to improving stream function, which will flow on to enhance ecology and values.”
“People can get involved and help make a difference at this site and others along Yakamia Creek, Albany’s living stream,” added Jacqui Freeman, City of Albany’s Manager, City Reserves.
This release was provided by South Coast Natural Resource Management.
Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, we are a modern philanthropic organisation seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with key initiatives spanning from ocean research and ending slavery, to collaboration in cancer and community projects.
