We foster a prosperous, vibrant community for present and future generations within the Oyster Harbour Catchment through natural resource management.
Oyster Harbour catchment covers 3,000 square kilometers and stretches from Albany in the south to Tenterden in the north. It contains some of the Great Southern's best natural assets.
As an organisation we coordinate many native and agricultural management projects: increasing awareness, encouraging best practices for all land uses, carry out landscape scale on-ground works and collaborate with others through out the community.
As an organisation we coordinate many native and agricultural management projects: increasing awareness, encouraging best practices for all land uses, carry out landscape scale on-ground works and collaborate with others through out the community.
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Some Recent Stories
Importance of Whole-Farm Planning
Whole Farm Planning is planning, property design and management based on natural resources have on your land and economic factors in your life. To manage a farm well requires careful planning. In most instances, you should plan for years, if not decades in advance. You should plan both the physical development of the farm property, changes in climate/ natural resources, as well as the development of the farm business.
In any whole farm planning strategy, the farmer must first assess the site in terms of the present or potential use/suitability of their land/natural resources. The farm is then managed/subdivided, (usually by fences), based on productive or problem areas (e.g. erosion, salinity). Water and access routes are highlighted. Cropping or livestock rates are planned to be increased if feasible. The shelter is planned and planted out or built. Soils are monitored and altered to achieve the best production, cost-efficiently as possible.
Oyster Harbour Catchment Group tries to promote this type of farm management as it fits our vision to foster a prosperous, vibrant community for present and future generations within the Oyster Harbour Catchment through natural resource management.
Farm management and best practice are always adapting as we learn more about our agricultural systems, adopt new technology and manage changes in market chain demands. Oyster Harbour Catchment group partners with the farmer on numerous projects to support those who are trying to carrying this out.
For Example:
In any whole farm planning strategy, the farmer must first assess the site in terms of the present or potential use/suitability of their land/natural resources. The farm is then managed/subdivided, (usually by fences), based on productive or problem areas (e.g. erosion, salinity). Water and access routes are highlighted. Cropping or livestock rates are planned to be increased if feasible. The shelter is planned and planted out or built. Soils are monitored and altered to achieve the best production, cost-efficiently as possible.
Oyster Harbour Catchment Group tries to promote this type of farm management as it fits our vision to foster a prosperous, vibrant community for present and future generations within the Oyster Harbour Catchment through natural resource management.
Farm management and best practice are always adapting as we learn more about our agricultural systems, adopt new technology and manage changes in market chain demands. Oyster Harbour Catchment group partners with the farmer on numerous projects to support those who are trying to carrying this out.
For Example:
- Healthy Estuaries WA Project
- Looking forward, looking back: planning and action for the Oyster Harbour: farm planning project
- Grazer Matcher
Feral Animal Control
Feral animals are a significant threat to biodiversity, as well as cost to farmers profitability and mental health.
see more general info: environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia
We have a couple of cat and fox traps that we lend out to members when requested and sometime we help release rabbit control virus when appropriate and available but unfortunately we don't have a strategic plan for feral animal control. Our main work being focus around awareness raising and education (see more here on our threats page) along with out annual feral animal shoot. Recently we have been investigating have more on-ground action about including submitting a grant in partnership with Torbay Catchment Group, Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee and Southern Aboriginal Corp
Albany and Surrounding Group Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG) Update
While the group may have been a bit quiet over the last few months, things have been slowly ticking along in the background.
As much as we are aware of the dangers of roaming cats and stricter laws are in place, there are still hundreds of cats and especially unsterilised cats in our region still being abandoned or becoming strays each year. It is clear that not enough education is available locally.
Seeing this very important niche that needed to be filled, Chair Lucia Queary and Coordinator Jenni Loveland have devoted many hours applying for a State NRM Grant to help the group move forward into next year and maintain momentum.
Overview of the three-year grant, “Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity”, would run from January 2022-December 2024.
If successful, the grant will help to conserve our biodiversity, by increasing public awareness in Albany and surrounding areas focusing on cat issues.
The Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (A&SFCWG) will collaborate with local stakeholders to:
“A collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.”
For more information or to keep up to date. Please follow the Facebook page www.facebook.com/notoferalcats or email jenni.loveland@ohcg.org.au or webpage www.ohcg.org.au/cats-feral-stray-and-domestic.html
see more general info: environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia
We have a couple of cat and fox traps that we lend out to members when requested and sometime we help release rabbit control virus when appropriate and available but unfortunately we don't have a strategic plan for feral animal control. Our main work being focus around awareness raising and education (see more here on our threats page) along with out annual feral animal shoot. Recently we have been investigating have more on-ground action about including submitting a grant in partnership with Torbay Catchment Group, Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee and Southern Aboriginal Corp
Albany and Surrounding Group Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG) Update
While the group may have been a bit quiet over the last few months, things have been slowly ticking along in the background.
As much as we are aware of the dangers of roaming cats and stricter laws are in place, there are still hundreds of cats and especially unsterilised cats in our region still being abandoned or becoming strays each year. It is clear that not enough education is available locally.
Seeing this very important niche that needed to be filled, Chair Lucia Queary and Coordinator Jenni Loveland have devoted many hours applying for a State NRM Grant to help the group move forward into next year and maintain momentum.
Overview of the three-year grant, “Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity”, would run from January 2022-December 2024.
If successful, the grant will help to conserve our biodiversity, by increasing public awareness in Albany and surrounding areas focusing on cat issues.
The Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (A&SFCWG) will collaborate with local stakeholders to:
- Raise awareness of best practice cat responsibility, including early de-sexing and containment, through responsible cat ownership presentations to school and TAFE students, community groups, Shire staff and conservation organisations. This not only protects the local wildlife but also decreases roaming cats’ exposure to the dangers from the outside world.
- Static displays will be erected in libraries and shopping centres, Shire reception and museums with stalls at local market days and shows of posters and information.
- To gain a better understanding of why barn/farm/shed cats are used, how we can help and how we could encourage a reduction in numbers and responsible ownership.
- Review original goals for the group and plan for the future of the group.
“A collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.”
For more information or to keep up to date. Please follow the Facebook page www.facebook.com/notoferalcats or email jenni.loveland@ohcg.org.au or webpage www.ohcg.org.au/cats-feral-stray-and-domestic.html
History of Working Together
Together Contributing to a more Prosperous and Sustainable Catchment
My beautiful archive and discovery team have been amazing and a lot of fun to work with. We have gone through 25 governance and project files so far learning something new every day.
For example, did you know there were original 12 land catchment volunteer committees looking after different sub-catchments within the Oyster Harbour Catchment? In a way, it's a bit sad that we now only have one but hopefully, all those people would be proud of the work Oyster Harbour Catchment group continues to do. We always have room for more committee members if you want to make sure your sub-catchment is getting looked after.
On the brighter side, there are many familiar names within the documents that we still see as passionate as ever within the Landcare space. Heather Adams: OHCG current chair, Bruce Radys: OHCG current senior project officer and Johanna Tomlinson; Current SCNRM Operations Officer and OHCG member as young project officers are always fun names to find. I also recently found my grand dad: Tony Kelly name in some 1998-2000 pasture trails and remnant vegetation fencing on his/ now uncle's farm in Kendenup.
If you have any free time, are interested in history or just want to hang out with some great people please contact me Sayah at communications@ohcg.org.au and join the Archive and discovery team.
Taking Past Learnings into the Future is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
My beautiful archive and discovery team have been amazing and a lot of fun to work with. We have gone through 25 governance and project files so far learning something new every day.
For example, did you know there were original 12 land catchment volunteer committees looking after different sub-catchments within the Oyster Harbour Catchment? In a way, it's a bit sad that we now only have one but hopefully, all those people would be proud of the work Oyster Harbour Catchment group continues to do. We always have room for more committee members if you want to make sure your sub-catchment is getting looked after.
On the brighter side, there are many familiar names within the documents that we still see as passionate as ever within the Landcare space. Heather Adams: OHCG current chair, Bruce Radys: OHCG current senior project officer and Johanna Tomlinson; Current SCNRM Operations Officer and OHCG member as young project officers are always fun names to find. I also recently found my grand dad: Tony Kelly name in some 1998-2000 pasture trails and remnant vegetation fencing on his/ now uncle's farm in Kendenup.
If you have any free time, are interested in history or just want to hang out with some great people please contact me Sayah at communications@ohcg.org.au and join the Archive and discovery team.
Taking Past Learnings into the Future is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
Contact Us |
Find Us |
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Phone: (08) 9851 2703
Mobile: 0419 646 390 |
Plantagenet Landcare Centre,
Old Railway Station. Po Box 118 Mt Barker WA 6324 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 0830 - 1700 hrs (Office may be unattended as we are often in the field) 
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Our Sponsors and Supporters
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We acknowledge the Minang Bibbulmun people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Bibbulmun community.
