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Summer is here and Nature Conservation Margaret River Region is urging locals and visitors to enjoy themselves over the holiday period but also help protect our special flora and fauna.

“It’s an awesome time of year where we take to our local beaches and enjoy what our beautiful coastline has to offer,” says Nature Conservation’s caring for coast officer Mandy Polley.

“Unfortunately, some of our beloved coastal areas are being loved to death, where huge numbers of people are accessing popular spots that are at capacity, while less accessible sites are also suffering under the pressure.

“You may notice this from obvious signs, such as overflowing carparks, a lot of people using trails, the beach, and in the water. There are other signs that may not be as obvious: trampled vegetation, ash on the beach from fires and broken branches used as firewood, toileting in the bush, rubbish on the beach, trails becoming wider and eroded and more and more tracks created to access areas.

“All this impacts our natural environment – with the loss of vegetation and the native wildlife that depends on it for food and habitat, as well as the destruction of amenity of the areas we love the most.”

Ms Polley says precious places such as the Injidup Natural Spa and The Aquarium are now busy year-round. “There no longer seems to be seasonality in terms of numbers of people, so there’s no opportunity for these areas to rest and recover,” she says. “The pressure is constant, and we have all noticed the decline, with more trails being created and fragile granite vegetation lost.”

She urged locals to keep in mind that “we are all custodians of Wadandi Boodja”, and she suggested visiting these places and “engaging with the land soulfully”. “This means being mindful and present, staying on formal trails, parking in designated areas only, taking rubbish home with you, educating people about doing the right thing and respecting the fire ban period, even if you feel it is safe and on the beach, as embers can travel for kilometres,” she says. “Take only memories.”

Dolphins in the waves off the Margaret River region

Despite the pressures, there have been major inroads made thanks to the efforts of the Margaret River Coastal Residents Association (MRCRA) who meet every week to weed and revegetate the coast and the local schoolchildren who care for areas of coast as part of Nature Conservation’s Adopt a Spot program.

MRCRA’s Genny Broadhurst said there were a few simple ways we can all enjoy this magic stretch of coast, and help keep it pristine. “I’d encourage everyone to stick to pathways and stay off the vegetation,” she said. “Please pick up any dog poo, because it can cause native animals to move away from their habitat. And make sure that you take any rubbish away with you as well.”

The Margaret River or Wooditjup Bilya

Nature Conservation’s Caring for Coast program is funded through the Line in the Sand philanthropic group and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River’s Environmental Management Fund.