Environment
Waterways
Lake Kununurra Vegetation Management Plan
In 2008 a vegetation management plan was finalised for Lily Creek Lagoon and a portion of Lake Kununurra. This plan focuses on cumbungi and other aquatic weeds and their control, riparian weeds, management of areas of foreshore and recommended management actions.
Appendices and Figures to the Plan are available for separate download:
Appendices 1 to 7
Appendix 1 Wetland Information, Appendix 2 GPS Points, Appendix 3 Vegetation Condition Tables,
Appendix 4 Plant List Final, Appendix 5 Flora and Fauna Search, Appendix 6 Fire Scar 2006 and Appendix 7 Fire Scar 2005
Appendices 8 and 9
Appendix 8 SWEK Maintenance Program and Appendix 9 Cumbungi Removal Options
Figures 1 to 4
Figure 1 Land & Vegetation Management Units, Figure 2 Vegetation Quadrants, Figure 3 Land Management Unit 1, Figure 4 Land Management Unit 2
Figures 5 to 7
Figure 5 Land Management Unit 3, Figure 6 Land Management Unit 4 and Figure 7 Land Management Unit 5
Figures 8 to 11
Figure 8 Land Management Unit 6, Figure 9 Cumbungi Cover 1978-2006, Figure 10 Lily Lagoon 2m Depth Contour and Figure 11 Cumbungi Control Zone
Figures 12 to 14
Figure 12 Weed Harvest Area 2 and Figure 13 Weed Harvet Area 1
Lake Kununurra Water Quality Monitoring Report 2009
This report is a summary of the water quality data that was collected over a 3 year period from wet season 2006-2008. The 3 year program focussed on a total of 7 drains which were monitored for a variety of paramaters including nutrients, heavy metals, petro chemicals, ph, and sediment. The program was funded by the Commonwealth and State governments as part of the project; Key Management Actions for Lake Kununurra. The monitoring program has provided valuable base line data for the water quality that enters Lily Creek Lagoon via Kununurra's stormwater drains.
Best Management Practices Stormwater Manual Kununurra
This manual uses information found in the Stormwater Management Manual for WA. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater are techniques, measures or structural controls that are used to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in the most cost-effective manner.
Best Management Practices are designed to prevent or minimise pollutants, namely sediment, litter and chemicals, from entering the stormwater runoff and/or reduce the volume of stormwater requiring management. This manual is designed to improve the quality of stormwater entering local water bodies, namely Lily Creek Lagoon in Kununurra and the Cambridge Gulf in Wyndham.
Best Management Practices Stormwater Guidelines Kununurra
This is an extract from the manual that simply lists the non structural and structural controls in a series of dot points that can be used/undertaken to improve the quality of stormwater.
Education/Ribbons of Blue
The Shire’s Environmental Officer is available to work with schools on topics such as water quality, aquatic food webs, and stormwater. The best option to cover these topics is an excursion to your local water body to test the water quality and to identify macroinvertebrates yet this can also be delivered in class. There is the option for delivery of a short program or a once off excursion or activity.
Native Vegetation Clearing and Interference with a Watercourse
If you intend to interfere with a water course, pump water from a river or creek etc or to clear native vegetation, even if it is on your property, then you must contact the Department of Environment and Conservation (clearing) and/or the Department of Water (interference with water course and water licensing)
Verge plantings
The Shire is encouraging the greening of the town and for residents to take ownership over their verges. A recommended species list is available for residents that may like to plant a tree on their verge. You can get a free native tree from the Shire or if residents choose to landscape their verges, a development application is needed. If you are unsure on what tree to plant or what you can and can't do with your verge then please contact John Gault or Katya Tripp for advice and recommendations.
Native Tree Program
The Shire has an ongoing program of native tree replacement and protection along verges and in public open space. The Shire staff peg and tag native seedlings that have self sown from the remaining native trees. These seedlings are local to the area and do not require watering. Through protection of these trees we are able to increase native animal habitat, green the outskirts of town and provide protection for those trees that are lost each wet season to storms or simply due to age.
Kununurra locals helping and having fun while planting native trees.
Weed removal
The Shire targets small infestations of weeds along the foreshore, in public open space and along road verges. Weed control in these areas has included snake weed (Stachytarpheta cayennsis), Parkinsonia aculeata, coffee bush (Leucaena leucocephala), candle bush (Senna alata), mission grass (Pennistum polystachion), and neem (Azadirachta indica). Isolated occurrences of these weed sp. have been targeted and are receiving ongoing control aiming for eradication. Some of these weeds such as candle bush and snake weed are grown in gardens as ornamentals. It is important for residents to be aware of these weeds so that if they have them in their gardens then they can get advice and possibly assistance with removing them.
A neem control program is implemented by Ord Land and Water. For more information on neem trees and how to remove them please contact Dick Pasfield from Ord Land and Water on (08) 9169 2222.
Salvinia
Through the lake Kununurra project the Shire has partnered with Ord Land and Water to isolate, control and eradicate Salvinia molesta from Lily Creek Lagoon. Salvinia is a floating water weed that was first found in Lily Creek lagoon in 2000. It is believed to have entered the lagoon either directly though a community member emptying a fish tank or indirectly through the stormwater system from an overflowing back yard pond. Over the years it has been able to be confined and controlled yet it has not been until recently that it is believed to have been finally eradicated. The area is still undergoing close monitoring. It is very important for community to be aware of this weed and the damage it will cause to our recreational lakes and waterways.
Former CEO Peter Stubbs and Enviromental Officer Katya Tripp inspecting Salvinia in Lily Creek Lagoon.
The Environs Kimberley Community WEED Project has compiled an (ever-growing) list of Kimberley weeds. These have been developed into downloadable weed cards so anyone in the Kimberley can learn to identify weeds and then start doing something about them. Follow the link to download individual or a set of weed cards http://www.environskimberley.org.au/weeds.htm
Local community group Ord Land and Water in conjunction with the Rangelands Natural Resource Management Group has developed a fact sheet for high priority weeds of Lake Kununurra.
Fact Sheet Lake Kununurra Priority Weeds
Caltrop, also commonly known as bindi's, is a nasty prickle bush that grows in unmanaged yards and verges. It is easily spread by shoes, car and bike tyres. The Shire is currently trying to control this weed in its parks and gardens but requests that landowners also remove it from their yards and verges.
Pest AnimalsCane Toads are expected to be in Kununurra by the next wet season. For information on how to identify and handle a cane toad, how to protect your domestic pets and other cane toad topics please see the attached information sheets. For further information follow the links to cane toad groups and organisations.