A SHORT BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE WANDI COMMUNITY CENTRE SITE
The Wandi Landcare Group is a subcommittee of the Wandi Progress Association and has been in operation since the first few years of the association. Its makeup has always been elected WPA committee members and interested members of the community being strongly supported by the City of Kwinana and a variety of corporate bodies.
The site of the Wandi community Centre and Magenup Equestrian Centre is located on two parcels of land. The buildings of the community centre and the equestrian centre clubrooms are sited on lot 33 being 10 acres, the arenas and stables are on Lake Magenup reserve.
In the very early days of the WPA it was decided for the betterment of the community that the Lake Magenup reserve should be preserved and reinstated to its former condition as a dampland land. In my early days living in Wandi some 35 years ago the lake flooded in winter and was the home of nesting black swans. The eastern boundary of the reserve is the border of Kwinana and Serpentine Jarrahdale and is clearly marked by a deep drain cut into the ground. This drain passes through and runs for kilometres south, now in a degraded condition. The Water Authority were responsible for the maintenance of this drain and it was regularly cleared of debris to allow surface water to flow south. Some time ago the drain maintenance was handed over to the local authority and it became their financial burden to keep them clear so the maintenance stopped. Now the drain has a good stand of flooded gums (Eucalyptus Rudis) marking its location. The water doesn’t really flow anymore and due to climatic changes and a reduction in rainfall the lake fills up but not to the level it used to. Tree planting became the first project of the Wandi Landcare Group and has continued to this day and wouldn’t be possible without the many local volunteers whom have planted thousands of trees and native shrubs on the site.
In the early years lot 33 and Lake Magenup was cleared and used for grazing, in my first years cows could be seen grazing in both areas. Fences on the eastern boundary were broken down and the cows just roamed through following the green feed. Of course the area was seen as good summer pasture being a dampland land holding water for most of the year providing green feed. Remnants of clearing were visible when we arrived in Wandi, the grove of paper bark trees close to DeHaer Road on the oval near the large dead paper bark is where cleared trees were pushed and burnt years before. The oval area was a layer of bare peat and black sand covered with Spearwood (Kunzea Glabrescens) and the horse arenas were choked out with kikuyu grass and water couch like most of the lake area is today. One of the first projects the WPA involved themselves was to clean up the oval site, clearing out some of the spearwood for the Wandi Fair. The dead paperbark trees pushed in a pile for burning was now filled with paperbark regrowth, black burnt logs and fencing wire. If we were to use the site this was deemed too dangerous so with the help of a large front end loader the burnt logs we cut and removed along with the fencing wire.
A walk trail was established for locals, becoming very popular for exercising dogs and of course horse riders use it extensively. To guide users around the lake area post and rail fences were installed in the sandy zones reducing the risk of further damage to the reserve. Pockets were identified for planting on the more fragile areas first and now have good growth over the years. Every year another area is targeted and more tube stock is planted with the aim of bring the area back to what it was before clearing.
In 2008 to give the lake area more interest a large sign was erected at the head of the limestone carpark near the Equestrian Centre. This was the start of the walk trail, interpretative signs were installed along the walk indicating plants, trees and animal species local to the lake area. These signs were well weathered and are now being upgraded and sited along the walk, project completion is expected before the end of 2021.
Another project to begin on the 21st May 2021 is the redevelopment of the bush between DeHaer Road the Shed and Resource Centre. This project has four stages the first being the most dramatic, mulching the degraded vegetation. With consultation of the City of Kwinana Environmental Health Department the old dead and dying spearwood will be mulched and returned to the soil. This area was originally cleared for grazing and since that stopped spearwood has taken over the site. Spearwood is a plant species that moves in and colonizes the bare ground to allow other species to establish themselves. In this area only a couple of mature paper bark trees have grown and trees that the landcare group planted some years ago, these will be left.
Once the site has been cleared stage two will start this being weed spraying, this area has veldt grass, love grass, pig face, etc. that will be removed. Stage three is the planting of ten advanced trees to support stage four, the planting of 150 understory native plants. There will also be a follow up weed spaying session and a summer watering program ensuring the success of the plantings.
The benefits of this project will be a reduced fuel load around the buildings and the power supply to the Community Centre. The more manageable planting will give native birds and animals a favourable living area. While the site is establishing we have left covered corridors to the north and south giving bandicoots and kangaroos somewhere to hide from predators and people.
Follow up plantings of tube stock will be programmed for the future helping the understory to develop.
The site of the Wandi community Centre and Magenup Equestrian Centre is located on two parcels of land. The buildings of the community centre and the equestrian centre clubrooms are sited on lot 33 being 10 acres, the arenas and stables are on Lake Magenup reserve.
In the very early days of the WPA it was decided for the betterment of the community that the Lake Magenup reserve should be preserved and reinstated to its former condition as a dampland land. In my early days living in Wandi some 35 years ago the lake flooded in winter and was the home of nesting black swans. The eastern boundary of the reserve is the border of Kwinana and Serpentine Jarrahdale and is clearly marked by a deep drain cut into the ground. This drain passes through and runs for kilometres south, now in a degraded condition. The Water Authority were responsible for the maintenance of this drain and it was regularly cleared of debris to allow surface water to flow south. Some time ago the drain maintenance was handed over to the local authority and it became their financial burden to keep them clear so the maintenance stopped. Now the drain has a good stand of flooded gums (Eucalyptus Rudis) marking its location. The water doesn’t really flow anymore and due to climatic changes and a reduction in rainfall the lake fills up but not to the level it used to. Tree planting became the first project of the Wandi Landcare Group and has continued to this day and wouldn’t be possible without the many local volunteers whom have planted thousands of trees and native shrubs on the site.
In the early years lot 33 and Lake Magenup was cleared and used for grazing, in my first years cows could be seen grazing in both areas. Fences on the eastern boundary were broken down and the cows just roamed through following the green feed. Of course the area was seen as good summer pasture being a dampland land holding water for most of the year providing green feed. Remnants of clearing were visible when we arrived in Wandi, the grove of paper bark trees close to DeHaer Road on the oval near the large dead paper bark is where cleared trees were pushed and burnt years before. The oval area was a layer of bare peat and black sand covered with Spearwood (Kunzea Glabrescens) and the horse arenas were choked out with kikuyu grass and water couch like most of the lake area is today. One of the first projects the WPA involved themselves was to clean up the oval site, clearing out some of the spearwood for the Wandi Fair. The dead paperbark trees pushed in a pile for burning was now filled with paperbark regrowth, black burnt logs and fencing wire. If we were to use the site this was deemed too dangerous so with the help of a large front end loader the burnt logs we cut and removed along with the fencing wire.
A walk trail was established for locals, becoming very popular for exercising dogs and of course horse riders use it extensively. To guide users around the lake area post and rail fences were installed in the sandy zones reducing the risk of further damage to the reserve. Pockets were identified for planting on the more fragile areas first and now have good growth over the years. Every year another area is targeted and more tube stock is planted with the aim of bring the area back to what it was before clearing.
In 2008 to give the lake area more interest a large sign was erected at the head of the limestone carpark near the Equestrian Centre. This was the start of the walk trail, interpretative signs were installed along the walk indicating plants, trees and animal species local to the lake area. These signs were well weathered and are now being upgraded and sited along the walk, project completion is expected before the end of 2021.
Another project to begin on the 21st May 2021 is the redevelopment of the bush between DeHaer Road the Shed and Resource Centre. This project has four stages the first being the most dramatic, mulching the degraded vegetation. With consultation of the City of Kwinana Environmental Health Department the old dead and dying spearwood will be mulched and returned to the soil. This area was originally cleared for grazing and since that stopped spearwood has taken over the site. Spearwood is a plant species that moves in and colonizes the bare ground to allow other species to establish themselves. In this area only a couple of mature paper bark trees have grown and trees that the landcare group planted some years ago, these will be left.
Once the site has been cleared stage two will start this being weed spraying, this area has veldt grass, love grass, pig face, etc. that will be removed. Stage three is the planting of ten advanced trees to support stage four, the planting of 150 understory native plants. There will also be a follow up weed spaying session and a summer watering program ensuring the success of the plantings.
The benefits of this project will be a reduced fuel load around the buildings and the power supply to the Community Centre. The more manageable planting will give native birds and animals a favourable living area. While the site is establishing we have left covered corridors to the north and south giving bandicoots and kangaroos somewhere to hide from predators and people.
Follow up plantings of tube stock will be programmed for the future helping the understory to develop.
Rehabilitation site located within the yellow boundary, all mature trees will be left.
Photo taken looking south near the fire brigade water tank stand.
The mature eucalypt in the foreground will remain.
The mature eucalypt in the foreground will remain.
Photo looking west past the BBQ covered seating area.
Mature paperbark trees behind the BBQ area will remain along with another tree to the south.
Mature paperbark trees behind the BBQ area will remain along with another tree to the south.
Photo looking north behind the Shed
Photo looking south along DeHaer Road
Where the WPA volunteer is situated in the foreground ground is where the power supply is for the Centre. The power cabinets are surround by spearwood growth. To the left of the photo is a stand of planted Rudis these will remain.
Where the WPA volunteer is situated in the foreground ground is where the power supply is for the Centre. The power cabinets are surround by spearwood growth. To the left of the photo is a stand of planted Rudis these will remain.
ALL CLEARED OUT 12 MAY 2021
Clearing out the spearwood with this especially designed skid steer mulcher made short work of the unwanted degraded vegetation.
Photo shows the cleared area after the first pass with the mulcher.
A short break from clearing out the spearwood and the the final strip to be cleared.
This area of spearwood was encroaching on the South side of the Resource Centre and would have proved to be a real fire issue in any weather conditions.
This area of spearwood was encroaching on the South side of the Resource Centre and would have proved to be a real fire issue in any weather conditions.
PLANTING THE SITE STAGE ONE 29 MAY 2021
A small team of Wandi Landcare members braved the cold and wet weather to plant 25 advanced trees all local species growing in Wandi.
Tube stock planting will be stage two in a month
Tube stock planting will be stage two in a month
Mark, Gary and Les in the distance planting Allocasuarina fraseriana 'WA Sheoak'.
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Chris making sure the job was done right Gary on the shovel.
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Les was in the distance and working hard getting the job done.
WHATS BEING PLANTED3 x Eucalyptus marginata 'Jarrah' 35L
15 x Eucalyptus rudis 'Flooded Gum' 45L 7 x Allocasuarina fraseriana 'WA Sheoak' 
Gary is our landcare group leader and organized the advanced trees along with wife Amanda, a family donation provided a mini excavator making easy hole digging on the cleared site.
Right: Gary is using all his concentration to place the hole in the right spot. |
Ken had the right idea making short work of the hole filling and cleaning up.
A moment in time with Wayne making sure the Eucalyptus rudis 'Flooded Gum' was upright in the hole.
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Above: All the advanced trees were staked to reduce any movement in the ground from wind, this ensures the roots get a good hold in the ground and the tree can have steady growth.
Above Right: Care was taken when digging the holes to make sure any existing native plants weren't dug up allowing new regrowth to sprout away. Right: Part of the job was to give the local animals shelter after the vegetation had been mulched. This was easily achieved by using old pallets, 8 were used, placing them on the ground and covering with dried brush. Bandicoots, lizards, etc. now have a place to hide if threatened by stray cats, dogs, people and birds. Once the area grows back they can be easily removed to a new location. Below: Our tree planting was completed on 27th June 2021 starting at 9am and finishing around 11.30am, 150 tube stock of local species were planted with the assistance of the community. Kwinana Council drilled all our holes and supplied tree guards and stakes. Another planting was completed on Majenup Lake where other locals assisted and planted 450 seedling. Weather stopped the planting earlier than expected so we all gathering on the Resource Centre verandah for a cuppa, sausage sizzle, fruit early lunch. Well done to all. |
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