Celebrate Lake Goollelal

Participants Matt Kerr and Toby Kerr. Photo: Jesse Collins

Last Sunday (11 August), 167 passionate local residents donned outdoor gear and took to the tools for a morning of tree planting beside Lake Goollelal at Yellagonga Regional Park in the northern suburb of Kingsley, to celebrate and learn about their local patch of national significance.

Extending planting works already undertaken by volunteer group, Friends of Yellagonga and Greening Australia, people of all ages planted an additional 400 seedlings across the site.

The seedlings planted are a mix of native species that will contribute to the protection of wildlife known the reside in the area, notably oblong turtles, as well as provide habitat for endangered bird species such as the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo.

Greening Australia event organiser, Joseph Meadham said:

“ Lake Goollelal, a key site within a chain of wetland and freshwater habitats that forms Yellagonga Regional Park, has such a high environmental and cultural value for local and wider communities it has been great to able to share this with those who came along to the event.

Through our Nature in Cities program and events like this, Greening Australia is working to create greener, more livable cities and urban fringes by restoring natural ecosystems to improve habitat for wildlife, meet carbon neutral targets and create open spaces for recreation.”

Marissa Verna from Bindi Bindi Dreaming leading a guided fauna and cultural walk
Photo: Jesse Collins

Marissa Vear from Bindi Bindi Dreaming showcased the Indigenous significance of the site by leading a cultural walk and bush tucker tasting session to promote cultural connection to place, especially to the waterways.

Marissa Vear said: “The Land is the storyteller so make sure you take time out to learn. This is the Aboriginal way of ensuring our places are here forever and for everyone, and even the animals.”

Attendees, including local MP for Kingsley Jessica Stojkovski, also took part in activities led by City of Joondalup, and a nature walk led by ecological consulting duo Mandy and Mike Bamford, from Bamford Consulting.

Interested locals are encouraged in continuing to look after Yellagonga Regional Park through its established Friends group.Kevin McCleod, Chair of Friends of Yellagonga, said:

” It was pleasing to see the big roll up of people particularly with young families coming to help in restoring bushland around the wetland.

Friends of Yellagonga have volunteering opportunities for anyone who would like to assist in maintaining and rejuvenating the park, and those who just want to spend a bit of time outdoors.”

Friends of Yellagonga and Greening Australia Project Officer Joe Meadham at their plant nursery. Photo: Jesse Collins

This event was made possible thanks to funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program through a community stewardship grant, to highlight the importance of Yellangonga Regional Park for local residents.

Find more information about Friends of Yellagonga at www.friendsofyellagonga.com.au.

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