Maurice McCormick, deputy chair of the Torbay catchment group, is urging landholders to take a personal approach to their road verges.

"I have watched weeds take a strong foothold in the catchment over the past fifty years and it's going to take some doing to bring weeds under control. A group of us have been road side spraying watsonias for five year now, and are seeing some good results because we keep coming back to do follow up work.

Road verges become havens for weeds because no one sees them as their direct responsibility. If landholders took charge of their bit of road verge this situation would change.

The important thing is to work on weeds bit by bit to make sure that you don't damage the native vegetation and that you don't leave big areas bare by controlling one weed but leaving them open to new weed invasion. Do a small area at a time, get good control over at least a three year period and then plant it out thickly to native vegetation.

What I am suggesting is that more of us become road stewards taking on small areas and turning our road verges into beautiful corridors for plants and animals and for ourselves to enjoy", said Maurice.

Why not take on your road verge? Ring Maurice, 9845 1044, for help in how to start on your road verge.

Focus groups coming up Communications coordinator for the Torbay catchment, Louise Duxbury, will be contacting a small number of landholders to be involved in one-off discussion groups on how to involve people in the restoration plan. The different groups will include: larger landholders to discuss what might stop or help them from establishing perennial pastures, soil testing, and changing fertiliser management intensive agricultural businesses to discuss what might stop or help them better manage nutrients and reduce losses from their farms smaller landholders on how they can be involved in implementation of the restoration plan. Participation is voluntary, any travel expenses will be covered and supper will be provided. All participants will go into a draw for a free restaurant meal for two. Contact: Louise Duxbury 9840-9231.

Bore operating in Torbay drainage area testing for acid sulphate soils

Ian Mac Pherson, Geoff Sadgrove and Brad Degens, from the land and water quality section of the Department of Environment in Perth, were in the region mapping acid sulphate soils over December last year.

This work covered the lower part of the Torbay catchment. Work undertaken last year indicated that acid sulphate soils were likely contributors to nutrients in the lakes and Torbay Inlet at the bottom of the catchment.

The results from the mapping and interpretation work will help to identify areas at risk if soil is disturbed. Field days to help farmers recognise acid sulphate soils and know how to manage them are planned for later this year in Torbay catchment.

Equipment trailer (above) and soil core (below) from drain near the corner of Elleker-Grassmere Road and Lower Denmark Road, north east of Lake Powell

The Department of Environment, working with key players, is now preparing the Marbellup Brook Protection Plan. Marbellup Brook is an important freshwater resource, and the Water Corporation consider it will be needed for public drinking water within 10 years, to cater for growth in the region.

The potential use of Marbellup Brook for public water supply has long been recognised, and in 1986 the Marbellup catchment was declared a Water Reserve under the Country Areas Water Supply Act.

The next step in managing Marbellup Brook as a public water supply is the preparation of a Protection Plan. This Plan will outline the risks to water quality, and provide actions to ensure water quality is maintained and not polluted by any activity.

A great benefit in preparing the Protection Plan for Marbellup Brook is that the Watershed Torbay restoration plan already outlines many initiatives to combat algal growth and nutrient loss into the Brook. However, more work is needed to address pathogens and chemical risks as they are not fully covered in the catchment restoration plan.

The Department of Environment has received funding from SCRIPT to prepare the protection plan by June 2006. To assist in writing the plan, a steering group has been formed, with representatives from the City of Albany, Torbay Catchment Group, Water Corporation, and Department of Environment.

At this stage an assessment of the pathogen and chemical risks is being undertaken. The Steering Group is inviting community input on what they feel the main risks are from existing or future land uses, and what should be done to prevent or manage chemicals and pathogens.

Any suggestions on water quality protection for Marbellup Brook, not covered by the Torbay restoration plan, can be made by contacting Letisha Newman or Chris Gunby at the Department of Environment, PO Box 525, Albany or telephoning 9841 0117.