Why the King River?
The Community-led restoration of King River Warracoolyup project is part of the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program. It is led by the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group and will improve riparian habitat quality, complexity, and connectivity in project areas along the King River. Approximately 96% of the King River catchment is cleared and the river has been significantly impacted by historic agricultural use, predominately grazing with a loss of riparian vegetation and increased nutrient load. Fringing vegetation is in poor condition and under pressure from increased urbanisation and intensification of use.
The work is needed to;
The work is needed to;
- Increase biodiversity and conserve native plants and animals that are endemic to the site.
- Decrease threatening processes including loss of biodiversity, invasive weeds, erosion, high nutrient input, and sedimentation.
- Improve the ecological health of the King River Warracoolyup to contribute to the conservation of native species including the Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the rabe, water rat, or the "Australian Otter", a flagship species of local rivers requiring good water quality and vegetation making the Rakali an excellent indicator for riparian recovery for this project.
- Protect significant aquatic species found in King River Warracoolyup including nine native fish and crayfish - three of which are endemic to the region along with the south-west endemic quacking frog species Crinia georgiana.
- Survey presence and extent of Threatened Ecological Communities occurrence and EPBC listed species (potential for three threatened ecological communities and 50 threatened species identified in the EPBC Act Protected Matters Report, 2023).
- Enhance the quality of the King River foreshore whilst retaining public connection, access and intrinsic value.
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This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Oyster Harbour Catchment Group and City of Albany, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and Southern Aboriginal Corporation.
Project Activities
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Project Period: June 2025 to June 2028
Project Funding: $1,127,212 (Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust through Urban Rivers and Catchments Program)
Total Project Value: $1,394,896 (inclusive of other contributions from Oyster Harbour Catchment Group, City of Albany, Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Healthy Rivers Program and Healthy Estuaries WA Program).
Project activities include:
- Cultural heritage report to guide rehabilitation activities, protect heritage values and inform interpretative signage.
- Revegetation plans unique to each site.
- Surveys of fauna including Birdlife Australia surveys.
- Rehabilitation along 9.5kms of the King River with 98ha of restoration, 47ha of revegetation and improve one crossing.
- Two aquatic ecological assessments.
- Range of community activities, including 8 general events, 1 open space workshop, 1 project video, 1 community action plan, 10 information signs.
Project Period: June 2025 to June 2028
Project Funding: $1,127,212 (Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust through Urban Rivers and Catchments Program)
Total Project Value: $1,394,896 (inclusive of other contributions from Oyster Harbour Catchment Group, City of Albany, Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Healthy Rivers Program and Healthy Estuaries WA Program).
Project activities include:
- Cultural heritage report to guide rehabilitation activities, protect heritage values and inform interpretative signage.
- Revegetation plans unique to each site.
- Surveys of fauna including Birdlife Australia surveys.
- Rehabilitation along 9.5kms of the King River with 98ha of restoration, 47ha of revegetation and improve one crossing.
- Two aquatic ecological assessments.
- Range of community activities, including 8 general events, 1 open space workshop, 1 project video, 1 community action plan, 10 information signs.
King River Vegetation Management Plan
Oyster Harbour Catchment Group has engaged revegetation consultant Wendy Bradshaw to prepare a Vegetation Management Plan to guide revegetation activities for the Community-led Restoration of King River Warracoolyup Project. The draft plan was released for public comment from 16 November to 7 December 2025.
The full draft document King River Vegetation Management Plan is available to download and view at this link.
The full draft document King River Vegetation Management Plan is available to download and view at this link.
Community feedback on the draft King River Vegetation Management Plan is welcome, please email comments to [email protected]