Rehabilitating Roe 8  |  View this in your browser
Kaya! 

As Makuru, Noongar season comes to a end, we welcome Djiba, the season of conception. 

Djiba is represented by the colour pink as it symbolises growth of wildflowers and plants such as acacias.

This season brings a mixture of wet days with an increasing number of clear, cold nights and pleasant warm days.

Traditionally, the main food source included land-based grazing animals such as yongar (kangaroo), the waitj (emu), coomal (possum), and quenda. 

The woodland birds are still nest bound, hence the swooping protective behaviour of the koolbardi (magpie), djidi djidi (willy wag tails) and chuck-a-luck (wattle birds).

As the season progresses and the temperatures rise, the flower stalks of the balgas (Grass Trees) begin to emerge. 
Land Management & Works Update
Weeding and vegetation management 
  • Weed control finished, grass selectives will be used to control Perennial Veldt Grass after planting.
  • Hand weeding of woody weeds (mostly Acacia, Agave and Tagasaste) is planned.
  • A dead flame tree has been removed near the end of Tait Place, to avoid limbs falling on people, path and/or fence. Tree was visited by DRIPD due to potential presence of shothole borer. Results were negative, so trunk left on the ground for habitat.
  • Low hanging branches pruned from a Marri tree at bus stop on Forrest Road. that obstructed vision for vehicles/pedestrians and deemed a safety risk.

Invasive species control 
  • Rabbit control completed. Low to moderate activity found, RHDV released in some areas.
  • Fox/cat control completed. 3 foxes (2 male, 1 female) and 1 female feral cat caught with soft leg traps and euthanised. Foxes thought to be moving through, no dens located. 1 fox and cat found in Stock Road West area, 2 foxes in North Lake Road East.
  • Feral bee control completed. Ten hives treated with pyrethrin based chemical. 3 hives were reinfestations of hives treated in 2021. Several other hollows previously treated are still clear, with evidence of use by birds.

Land management
  • Matilda Birkett Reserve (NW corner of Coolbellup Av. and Forrest Rd) is suffering from erosion, with heavy rain causing some gullies to form and some seedlings being buried. We are currently assessing the best method to control this.
  • Continued vandalism has taken place in the corridor including fencing being cut, stake removal, plants being dug up, path destruction and illegal firewood collection. 
  • New signage has been designed and soon to be installed in corridor to help minimise vandalism and assist protecting the habitat. 
  • Fence cut near corner Cooby Av and Forrest Rd has been repaired. 
  • Limestone path in Malvolio bushland is scheduled to be re-rolled to fix damages. 
New Signage in Corridor
Seven signs in the Rehabilitating Roe 8 corridor have been reskinned. The updated signs now show the eight habitat types in the corridor, which was not previously the case. We hope this educates the public on the complexity and value of this land. 

New educational signs have also been designed and to be installed soon. 
Planting 2022
43,000 seedlings planted this season! 

Three planting events in the corridor this winter totalling 3,700 seedlings planted by local community members. Thank you to everyone who attended! Huge turn out for all events with super speedy work. 

Check out the pictures and blog posts for each event below: Turtle Corner seedlings have been guarded with a different type of guard called mesh sapling guards. 2021 to 2022 scientific report conducted by professor Rachel Standish indicated no significant difference between plastic guard and no guards, while cardboard showed to have a negative impact on seedling survival. 
RR8 Advisory Committee

Our new members have settled into the committee, utilising both online and in person options. 

The committee meet monthly with the RR8 Manager Adam Peck to discuss the Rehabilitating Roe 8 Management Plan (RMP). The committee is made up of a diverse range of community groups, government departments, tertiary institutes, community members and traditional owners. They assist with input and implementation of the RMP. At the next meeting, a workshop has been planned to discuss interpretive signage in the corridor.

Rehabilitating Roe 8: Advisory Committee Members – Rehabilitating Roe 8
Makuru (June-July) Events 

Lots of events over the Makuru season.

All events selling out almost overnight!  Check out the blog posts for each event below:  

Along with our two community planting days and school planting event. 
Future Events
The past couple of months has been packed full of events! We hope everyone has enjoyed these sell out events! Keep an eye out for future events. There is more to come in the second half of this year. 

Find event details on our website. 
Environmental Surveys - DPLH

The Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage (DPLH) have notified the RR8 project manager that a consultant will be undertaking vegetation surveys commencing Friday, 29 July in non conservation areas of Roe 8 and Roe 9, starting in the west moving east up until North Lake Road. The vegetation survey will take 3 to 4 days to complete finishing by Wednesday, 3 August. They are expected to return in September to survey species when flowering. 

Other surveys are anticipated including fauna and dieback surveys that are pending confirmation.

Environmental Surveys – DPLH – Rehabilitating Roe 8
City of Cockburn - Turtle Trackers
Would you like to find out more about our resident turtles? 

The City of Cockburn is running a Turtle information session sponsored by RR8, on the 13 August 2022 (registrations essential). Register now to learn more about the local freshwater turtles and the citizen science Turtle Tracker program. They are currently accepting applications for volunteers to participate in the 2022 nesting season. If you would like to be involved in this years citizen science program contact the City on 9411 3444 or email environmentaleducation@cockburn.wa.gov.au   

The program trains volunteers to record turtle and nest sights, including mortality and predation, and to protect nesting females on the move by guarding their egg-filled nests with temporary mesh coverings. The nesting season runs throughout Spring with training planned for August. 

The Southwestern snake-necked turtle (Chelodina Oblonga) inhabit Bibra Lake wetlands, with individuals regularly crossing Hope Road to migrate to and from seasonal North Lake wetland. This area is also known as Turtle Corner and Hope Road North that is part of the Roe 8 corridor. 
Keep up-to-date!
The Rehabilitating Roe 8 website is regularly updated with what is happening in the corridor, be sure to check it out!
The Rehabilitating Roe 8 project acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we conduct our business.  We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.  We acknowledge that the Rehabilitating Roe 8 project area is Whudjuk country and pay respects to Elders and Nyungar people past, present and future.
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