• Weed control ongoing, grass selectives used to control Perennial Veldt Grass
• Hand weeding of woody weeds (mostly Acacia, Geraldton Wax, Agave and Tagasaste) started, will continue into December
• CCWC fortnightly weeding and mapping in S7 ongoing, have been undergoing additional weeding events to get on top of weeds
• Contractors and casuals helping CCWC with hand weeding in S7
• Spraying of Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) happening soon, mainly Arum Lily in Bibra Drive/Hope Road zones

• If bird waterer is installed in corridor, it will need to be off scheme water. This has not been done to date, so RR8 may be the first time it is tested/trialled. Proposed location is on the western side of Turtle Corner.
• Tree stump seats and table installed at Stock Road West for CCWC volunteers
• Attaining quotes for water contractor coming into summer
• Assessed Turtle Corner for contamination, consensus that the site was not contaminated but soil is water repellent, this can be overcome by using wetting agents.
• Plant order for 2022/23 is complete, including 3,300 for Woody Meadows trial at Turtle Corner that will be 500m²
• Contractor beginning work soon to collect plant material for recalcitrant species
• New educational signage installed in corridor

• Rehabilitating Roe 8 project provided catering and presented at the City of Cockburn Turtle Information Talk that promotes citizen science and protection of the local Snake-necked turtle that utilises habitat within the corridor found in North Lake and Bibra Lake.
• Orchid trials started, with focus on S7 (Stock Road West). Aim is to enhance orchid abundance in revegetation areas of corridor.
• Adam Peck gave a tour of the corridor to TAFE Conservation & Ecosystem Management students
• Nyungar Language class facilitated by Sharon Gregory at the end of August

Belinda Cox of Djirrily Dreaming is a Kangeang /Bibblemum Nyungar woman (Yorga) practiced in the ways of traditional cultural medicine plants and natural remedies. At this event she will take us on a guided walk through the Malvolio bushland, covering the following:

• Introduction to Nyungar people, protocols and practices
• Bush medicinal plants
• Connecting people to country

The report on Aboriginal Archaeological Investigations at the Roe 8 Rehabilitation Management Area, Lake Walliabup (Bibra Lake) and Coolbellup (North Lake) is now publicly available to access. 

The report completed by Archae-aus from field work undertaken in December 2020, went through its final stage of review on the 19 September 2022 with approval given by the 11 Elders in attendance to release the report. The report recommends artefacts collected during the excavations are to be put on display at the City of Cockburn Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre. It also recommends that the area be recognised as a Nyungar Cultural Landscape; a Heritage Information Submission Form has been submitted to Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage for listing of one heritage place that enlarges the boundary of the current site. 

With further consultation and under guidance from the Cultural Heritage Management Plan, it has been suggested to gather stories from Elders about this place, and undertake additional archaeological excavations around the two lakes to further research and understand the significant Nyungar history that may yet to be discovered.  

The Rehabilitating Roe 8 Annual Report for 2021 to 2022 financial year is now complete and ready to access online. 

The report outlines the highlights and achievements of the project over the past year, with a summary of activities, community engagement, events, and KPIs. The report also discusses the rehabilitation efforts, success and areas of interest.  

Key highlights: 

• 666+ volunteer hours contributed
• $31, 968 value of volunteer contribution 
• Over 600 attendees at the 12 events held and land care 
• 43, 625 plants installed 
• 22 hectares of weed control 
• 614 e-newsletter subscribers

The Rehabilitating Roe 8 Signage Strategy is now available to access online. 

The advisory committee have recently been consulting on strategy and assisting Project Manager Adam Peck in design, content and location ideas for the early stages of implementation. 

The signage strategy works in collaboration with the Path Network Plan and the purpose is to develop an overall signage strategy for the rehabilitation of the Roe 8 wildlife corridor between Stock Road and Bibra Drive. 

The Rehabilitating Roe 8 Advisory Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Eddie Van Etten as Research Member.

The research role provides essential scientific input and oversight of the ecological restoration in the project corridor, which is entering its fifth year. Dr Van Etten brings a wealth of experience to the role. A Senior Lecturer in Ecology at Edith Cowan University, he is an active researcher and educator in restoration ecology, with some 20 years of experience in the rehabilitation of disturbed land after mining and other human disturbances.

Dr Van Etten says he took on this role because of the opportunities it presented to learn from and contribute to a large community-led restoration project. He said, “the initial clearing of vegetation for Roe 8 was highly controversial and saddened many people in the community. There are high expectations that the area can be restored in terms of native vegetation and fauna habitat and the Advisory Committee has an important role in overseeing and guiding the restoration efforts to help achieve these aims”.

Rehabilitating Roe 8: Advisory Committee Members – Rehabilitating Roe 8

New educational signage has been installed at various access points in the corridor. There has been on-going vandalism that effects the habitat, native flora and fauna species and progress of rehabilitation. 

The new signage will inform corridor users of the significance of the bamboo stakes that are used during rehabilitation and respecting the area by staying on tracks, keeping dogs on lead and habitat in-situ.

A new weed that has not been recorded in the corridor to date has been identified in Forrest Road North by Adam Peck (RR8 Project Manager). The weed is a South African pea species: Satin bush, Podalyria sericea. It has been removed to avoid spread and being monitored. 

Keep an eye out for any in the future and report to customer@cockburn.wa.gov.au or 9411 3444 if spotted.