ABOUT THE CANOE TRAIL FRIENDS

The Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc, a ‘paddlers alliance’, have developed a series of seven canoe trail guides to the Peel Region’s rivers and waterways and two associated companion guides providing details of the region’s natural and human history. These guides and companions are available free of charge to local residents of and visitors to our region through local visitor centres and businesses.

Environmental and community projects currently being undertaken by the Friends, include:

. establishment of a number of sanctuary zones for water and shore birds in the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary to help protect threatened migratory and residential wader birds,

. tree plantings and clean-ups along our rivers and waterways,

. incorporation of canoe trails in the proposed Peel Regional Park,

. development of canoe launch points to provide better access to our rivers and waterways,

. preparation of submissions to local and state governments raising concerns about the environmental impact on our waterways, and

. event coordinators of the annual Peel Region Canoe Week.

The Friends are members of:

• Peel Boating Community Group
• Peel Trails Group
• Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Project Technical Advisory Group

Membership:

The Friends would appreciate your support for by you becoming a member of the Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc.

Membership is open to any person over the age of 18years.

The annual membership fee is $5(five dollars)

Please Note: We are not a paddling club

Enquiries:

Send a self-addressed envelope to PO Box 3188 Mandurah East or call into Kayaks-4-U (near Kings Carnival, Western Foreshore Mandurah)

Membership Payment

Cash to Kayaks-4-U

Cheque or postal order to: Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc. PO Box 3188 MANDURAH EAST 6210

CANOE GUIDES

The Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra Inc. have produced a series of seven recreational canoe guides and three companions encompassing the waterways of the Peel Regional Park.

“Limited Edition” waterproof copies of these guides and companions are available through the sponsorship of Peel Development Commission, Kayaks-4-U and Yak Shack

For free copies of these limited editions: Send a self addressed DL size envelope, with stamps to the value of $1.65 (one dollar sixty five cents), to PO Box 3188, Mandurah East, WA 6210

or call into: Kayaks-4-U at Western Foreshore, Mandurah

or: Yak Shack at U5/40 Telsa Road Rockingham

Online copies are now available via: Mandurah Paddling Club’s

Website: www.mandurahpaddlingclub.org.au go to News, then check out canoe trails

A BIG thank you MPC

Canoe Guides:

Murray River: No. 1 The Darter Trail No. 2 The Swamp Hen Trail

Serpentine River: Nos 3 The Heron Trail & 3A The Spoonbill Trail

No. 4 The Mountain Duck Trail

Harvey River: No. 5 The Great Egret Trail

Peel Inlet : No.6 The Osprey Trail

Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary : No.7 The Pelican Trail

Canoe Guide Companions: A Natural History--- B Who are the Friends? ---C Human History

Leaflets, with a map showing the scope of the canoe guides and featuring heritage sites identified by the Mandurah Community Museum, complete with photos and descriptions are available from most Peel Region Visitor Centres

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Water and Shore Bird Sanctuary Zones: Following the receipt of our August letter to Hon Donna Faragher JP

MLC, Minister for the Environment, a joint visit to Creery Wetlands, Samphire Cove and Len Howard Conservation Park was carried out with Craig Olejnik (DEC’s Swan Coastal District Nature Conservation Coordinator). Follow up is taking place.

WATER and SHORE BIRD SANCTUARY ZONES

The Canoe Trail Friends have consulted with and received support for the Water and Shore Bird Sanctuary Zones from a wide range of community groups for this low cost initiative

However at the end of the day no local authority was able to take responsibility for the establishment of the bird sanctuary zones.

So we wrote to Minister Faragher, part of the Minister’s response was that she would call for a report from Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

We then presented to DEC the reasons for, and locations of, the sanctuary zones and the report is expected to be with the Minister in 2010.

Then subject to the Minister's decision, a public consultation process will take place and representation made to the Western Australian Conservation Commission

In the mean time we will resume our own consultation processes

The zones primarily would give the birds respite from the effect of human interference; for example, power boating, canoeing, jet skiing and sail boarding. The zones would be marked by buoys at a predetermined distance from the shore. The proposed zones would not affect access to rivers

The Friends are of the opinion that a number of areas are suitable for consideration as sanctuary zones; however, there are at least four areas for which the zones could be designated with relative ease. These are:

Reserve at southern end of John Street, Coodanup: the waters closed to professional fishermen, immediately in front of the John Street reserve, which extend in front of the reserve to the Serpentine River. This is a feeding ground for migratory and endemic waders.

Creery Wetlands: at both water access points to this habitat. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this reserve.

Samphire Cove: at the water access point to this habitat. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this reserve.

Len Howard Conservation Park: at both access points to the wetland south of Mandurah Quay. Bird observing is promoted from the shores of this conservation park habitat.

By paddling, walking and using a GPS, we have defined the sanctuary zone boundaries for:

Southern Harvey Estuary: from one kilometre by land south of Herron Point, across the estuary to 2.6 kilometres by land south of Island Point. A passage through the zone would be maintained to provide access to the Harvey River. This zone abuts A class nature reserves.

Austin Bay: The designated A Class Nature Reserve at Austin Bay, the boundary of which extends into the waterway

Since we first promoted the sanctuary zone concept, fairy terns have been placed on the threatened species list

The City of Mandurah expects to address the prohibition of dogs from the John Street Coodanup,” Wild Life Sanctuary” in 2010, when the Dog Exercise Review recommendations are due to be available

Count highlights from our visits to the zones:

At Austin Bay on 4^th October 2009: 1000 sharp-tail sandpipers, 1500 red-necked stints and a smaller number of red-capped plovers, not to mention around 2500 swans

February 28 2010 12,000 banded stilts

From the Southern Harvey Estuary two counts of red- necked stints made are worth mentioning, 5600 in February and 1200 in March 2009,700 red-necked avocets sighted in November and 2000 in December 2009

February 7 2010 (National Shorebird Count Day): 2,100 grey teal, 1300 Swans, 1270 red-necked avocets, 89 grey plovers, 8 pacific golden plovers, (not often sighted)

2010 PEEL REGION CANOE WEEK

The 5 th Annual Peel Region Canoe Week was held from 28 August – 12 September 2010

Where: Dwellingup, Mandurah, Pinjarra and Shoalwater

Novice and experienced paddlers were catered for with superb choices:

Dragon Boating, Canoe Polo, Whitewater Events, Sea Kayaking, Outrigger Canoeing, Senior Paddles, River and Estuary Paddles, Raft Building, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Resuscitation course plus a Multi Sport Event

A record 601 participants this year, with visitors from Queensland and New South Wales, congratulations go to all of the activity providers and a thank you to our supporters. For more details including competition results go to Peel Region Canoe Week

The event seemed to come of age this year, with the expansion of activities and interest being shown by not only the local press, but press beyond the Peel, likewise the online coverage was very good

2010 Peel Region Canoe Week was Proudly Supported by:

Ascot Kayak Club (Nanga Challenge)

City of Mandurah

Department of Sport & Recreation –Peel

Dwellingup Adventures

Kayaks-4-U

Mandurah Dragon Boat Club

Mandurah Outrigger Canoe Club

Mandurah Over 55s Canoe Club

Mandurah Paddling Club

Mandurah-Murray Vietnam Veterans Canoe Group

Peel Trails Group

Perth Canoe Polo Club (Murray White Water Festival)

South Metropolitan Public Health Unit

St John Ambulance

Westozkiteboarding (Stand Up Paddle Boarding)

Yak Shack

PEEL REGION CANOE CLUBS & LINKS

· Mandurah Over 55s Canoe Club Inc: The Club paddles three times a week, mainly on the estuary and rivers. Inquiries: send a stamped self- addressed envelope to PO Box 5214, Falcon 6210

· Mandurah Murray Vietnam Veterans’ Group: Members meet for a paddle on a Thursday morning at various locations in the Peel region. All Veterans and ex service people are welcome.

Contact Tiger 9537 8559 or website: www.mmvvg.asn.au

· Mandurah Outrigger Canoe Club Inc: Competitive & recreational paddling for teams &individuals Contact Colin, m: 0428 468 884 or website: www.mandurahoutriggers.blogspot.com

· Mandurah Paddling Club Inc: Membership: Competitive, recreational, social and junior recreational. Inquiries Paul, m: 0400 842 445, or website: www.mandurahpaddlingclub.org.au

· Peel Trails Group Website: Interested in what the go is with all sorts of trails around the Peel, then visit:

www.peeltrails.com.au

· Keep up to date with: Canoeing in Western Australia go to Robyn K’s site: www.iinet.net.au/~rokhor/canoe

February Update

REMINDERS 4-YOUR-DIARY

Sunday 27 February - Clean Up Rivers from kayaks, meet Riverview Boat Ramp 8am for 8.30am start (details provided last month)

Sunday 6 March Get-together & AGM (details emailed 13 -February)

“WHY & HOW” PRESENTATION With 38 people in attendance, Senior Ornithologist, Bill Rutherford informed on “WHY” we should protect our water and shore birds. Aside from support for our stance, some suggested “HOW” ’s included: “ Volunteer power” – (people in paid positions are constrained), more bird hides, education via TAFE, reviving the Gould Bird League, and tourism

Thanks, City of Mandurah and Natalie Lees, acting Coordinator Eco Services, for support & venue

Robert Wroth’s Birding Excursions Are still on until Sunday 13March, for details contact Robert by phone 9586 9920 or email wrothr@yahoo.com.au

Local Canoeing/Kayaking Training

Fairbridge Western Australia Inc:

Outdoor Recreation courses including: Guide canoeing trips on flat and undemanding water

Contact: Brett Hawthorn, Team Leader of Outdoor Recreation/Trainer,

Email: outdoor.rec@fairbridge.asn.au Mobile: 0409 071 699

Kayaks-4-U

Kayaking instruction / training and assessment at various levels, under the Australian Canoeing Award Scheme Contact: Paul on Mobile. 0419 885 710

Mandurah Paddling Club

Australian Canoeing accredited Kayaking instruction / training and assessment at various levels

Contact: Paul Harding Email. pastynchips@bigpond.com) Mobile. 0400 842 445

W A State Trails Conference: Passionate about Trails, then set aside Friday April 1, for this Free all day event. Details Web: www.dsr.wa.gov.au

AGM

Please be advised that the Canoe trail Friends AGM is being held on Sun 6th March at the home of Barry & Jeannette Small. Morning tea/ coffee 10am - Meeting 10.30am (please allow approx 30mins) for more information please Barry on 95869504

The Endangered Carnaby Cockatoo

The Frederick Irwin School has received a Grant to develop an environment that will encourage the Endangered Carnaby Cockatoo to return to the area. They plan to re vegetate the school perimeter with plants that the Carnaby likes & put in some nesting boxes. The school is looking for interested persons to form a working committee to assist with this project. Any interested persons are asked to contact Terry McNeil, through the primary reception on 0895816777

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