
The Wilson Inlet catchment covers 2254sq.km of
farmland, forests and towns.
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Welcome to our first edition
Welcome to our first edition of WINRAP
NEWS, produced by the Wilson Inlet
Catchment Committee (WICC). WINRAP
stands for the Wilson Inlet Nutrient Reduction
Action Plan.
The Action Plan is a 5 year program to
reduce algae coverage in the inlet to help
secure the future health of this culturally and
environmentally important estuary.
The plan focuses on work that has the
greatest level of community support and
likelihood of implementation, and that
provides the best environmental benefits for
the resources used.
Options to deal with excess nutrient input
have been discussed for many years by
various sections in the community.
Using the results of extensive studies
WINRAP has steered away from major
engineering solutions and instead looks to
the cause of the problem, rather than just
dealing with the symptoms.
As such we work with all sections of the
community to better manage the risks
associated with nutrients.
Major activities under the WINRAP include
helping landowners to improve fertilizer
efficiency through improved pasture
management, having a better understanding
of their soils and minimising nutrient export
through correct waterway management (such
as creating vegetated buffers or improved
drainage design).
We also help intensive rural land uses with
nutrient wastes and work to ensure planning
decisions take into account urban or
industrial nutrient sources.
The Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee
receives State and Australian Government
funding through the South Coast Natural
Resource Management (NRM) Inc to
undertake on ground actions with technical
support from the Department of Water.
- by Craig Carter, WICC Project Officer
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