October 13, 2022
Peel waterway initiative a finalist in prestigious community award
A multi group collaboration to protect and enhance vital waterways in the Peel region was a finalist the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s 2022 Community Partnership Resources Sector Award.
The Three Rivers, One Estuary initiative aligns four partners with a shared vision to restore and enhance the Serpentine, Murray and Harvey rivers and the Peel-Harvey Estuary that they feed.
The initiative brings together the Alcoa Foundation, which is our global charity, and three leading environmental NGOs in the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Greening Australia, and The Nature Conservancy Australia.
The award recognises outstanding achievements and leadership in building constructive community-resource industry partnerships that provide positive outcomes.
Since the Three Rivers, One Estuary initiative started in 2017, the Alcoa Foundation has provided more than $4 million toward helping these waterways, which are recognised as the environmental, economic, cultural, and social lifeblood of the Peel region of WA.
Key activities led by the partners to date include the installation of the trial shellfish reefs in the estuary, detailed river health assessments and action plans, in-stream and riverbank improvements, and extensive plantings across the river catchments.
By the end of the 2023, the combined projects will have resulted in more than 4,500 people and 190 organisations being upskilled in waterway conservation, more than 100 community events being conducted and 110,000 seedlings planted across the catchments.
Extensive knowledge sharing has been undertaken with the Traditional Owners of the region, the Bindjareb Noongar peoples, with hundreds of fee-for-service hours provided to associated ranger groups.
Alcoa Foundation Australian Lead Suellen Jerrard thanked the partners for their outstanding work and ongoing commitment to region’s waterways.
“We are delighted the Three Rivers, One Estuary has received this recognition and thank our partners, the Bindjareb Noongar people, and the broader Peel community for their invaluable work and support,” Mrs Jerrard said.
“These waterways are what make the Peel region such an amazing place to live, work and visit and if we all work together, we can have a positive impact.”