Support Volunteer October 2023 South Coast Campaign

In a year marked by realignments, trail extensions and new trail construction the Support Volunteers celebrated with a campaign of track work on the South Coast in Frankland and Albany Districts.  The Albany-based Binalup Rangers joined the SVs for the campaign, contributing 4 rangers for the 4 days of the campaign, 3 of which had worked on the previous 2022 NRM Grant Campaign in the area.

A very hot Monday but milder Tuesday saw the SV’s and Rangers working west of Parry Beach on a number of jobs.  Trackpad stabilisation installed in 2020 was infilled to retain sand while, to the west, the Rangers built a line of steps fitted with trackpad.

Wind fences constructed in the sand blow in 2021 were reinforced then draped with coir mesh attached firmly using cable ties.  It was very pleasing to record that brushing applied to the dune face, and coir mesh laid on exposed sand in 2020 and 2021 has aided regrowth of flowering plants and various sized shrubs.  Hopefully regrowth will continue and the larger shrubs will eventually cover the area completely.

The Binalup Rangers spent the remainder of the week around Mutton Bird and Sandpatch maintaining and improving the many water bars installed in recent years. Their work should substantially improve the effectiveness of the water bars in these areas, decreasing erosion of the track for years to come.

Recent erosion formed a bank on the Irwin Inlet east side requiring walkers to lift the heavy canoes from the water, no mean task for anyone on a long day.  Walkers’ passage across Irwin Inlet will be easier now with the installation of a ramp on the east side.  Constructed of a timber frame and GRP deck the ramp was installed in a day by an SV and Frankland District team who motored up the inlet by dinghy.

While the canoe ramp was under construction another SV team replaced old broken steps on the opposite side of the inlet.

Finally, the SV team hit Conspicuous Cliffs late in the week to make improvements to the stabilisation constructed in late 2020.  Small sections of coir mesh needed repair and trackpads were topped up with sand where it had been blown out.  After three years the stabilisation was generally working well with lots of regrowth coming up through the coir mesh and some trackpads.

In preparation for this campaign Frankland District crews delivered almost a tonne of materials to three separate locations.  The canoe shed was accessed by a long, sandy and sometimes difficult route from Boat Harbour.  Timber sleepers, trackpad, coir mesh, star pickets and 100lt of water was transported to the sand blow area by vehicle while sleepers and star pickets for Conspicuous Cliffs were carried 2km by hand to the base of the climb.  The campaign wouldn’t have been possible without the focussed efforts of the District crews and their supervisors who acted on our requests at, what is for them, a very busy time of the year.