Restoration and protection project in the iconic Margaret River region
The beach at Yallingup, surrounded by the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, near Margaret River, is an iconic surf location, as well as a culturally and environmentally significant area.
An increase in tourism has resulted in a higher risk of coastal spots becoming degraded through higher frequency of foot traffic and pedestrians accessing the bushland areas off the formal paths.
Erosion and subsequent run off of sediment and soil from compaction and formation of more informal tracks are also negatively impacting the natural environment including; less recruitment of native plants via natural regeneration, trampling of native vegetation, reducing habitat for native fauna, increasing soil erosion and reducing biodiversity.
To help reduce the human impact on the natural environment, a $10,000 Coastcare grant has been awarded to the Yallingup Land Conservation District Committee. The funds will be used to construct a 130m crushed limestone pathway leading visitors from the carpark around to a lookout for viewing the surf beach, reducing environmental risk.
In addition, 600 local native coastal plant species will be planted in the area surrounding the newly created pathway. A smaller section of post and rail fence will be installed around the car park to stop pedestrian entry into the bushland.
The project is being funded by Fremantle-based brewing company, Little Creatures. “At Little Creatures, we have always tried to do our little bit for the environment to ensure it can be enjoyed now and by future generations. We started our partnership with Coastcare three years ago because the beach and surf is such a quintessential part of the WA lifestyle,” said head brewer Russ Gosling.
Little Creatures developed an innovative cause-related marketing campaign, called Making Steps, Not Waves to raise $20,000 to fund the grant. They created a new beer, ‘Little Love Coastal IPA’ with $10,000 of sales proceeds going to the campaign and donated a further $10,000 from the proceeds of Little Creature’s sales at the Fremantle Beerfest sales to Coastcare for the Yallingup project.
