SPOTLIGHT ON MIDWEST 

Interview with Shannon Holler; Environment and Sustainability Officer; City of Geraldton.

1 What do you enjoy the most about your job?

The variety of my role.

2 What motivated you to follow your career path?

My love for wildlife. This led me to study Biological Sciences and Conservation & Wildlife Biology at Murdoch University.

3 What are key issues of concern for you/your organisation in your local coastal and marine environment?

Coastal erosion, 4WD impacts, impacts to vegetation and wildlife.

4 How are these key issues being addressed?

CHRMAP.

The City also receives reports from community members if they have noticed any issues.

5 How are you/your organisation currently working with your local community to address issues of importance?

1. The City and Birdlife Midwest-Geraldton are working together to create migratory shorebird signage for the Greenough River Estuary. The Greenough River Estuary is a popular area for off-road vehicle activities. The signage will highlight conservation statuses, and areas of the Estuary that migratory shorebirds use for breeding, roosting and feeding. 

2. The City, in partnership with Batavia CoastCare Network, were awarded Coastwest grant funding for 2023/24. We will be direct seeding Spinifex longifolius in between brushing along a highly eroded dune system at Sunset Beach in the next few months. This will be a repeat of Stage 1 Coastwest funding from the 2022/23 round.

3. The City will be hosting the annual Boxthorn Blitz workshops for the community in winter 2024. The Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) facilitate the workshops on the City’s behalf. Community groups have the opportunity to co-host the workshops with the City. This year Greenough River Friends, Beachlands Community Group, Sunset Beach Community Group, Chapman River Friends, and Heather Beswick will be co-hosting a workshop. Heather will co-host a joint workshop and rubbish clean up.

4. Chapman River Friends will be running a community planting day in winter 2024. This is in collaboration with the City. The City will be providing 300 local provenance plants grown from the City’s Community Nursery, morning tea catering, tree guards and planting equipment. The City is currently planning planting days with other local groups for winter 2024

5. The City has recently applied for 2024/25 Coastwest funding. If funding is awarded, fencing, brushing and planting will take place in a dune system currently impacted by 4wding. Birdlife Midwest-Geraldton, Greenough River Friends and Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation rangers will provide in-kind support by planting the local provenance seedlings.