Site Visit

Wooditjup Bilya (Margaret River) is one of the healthiest river systems in the Southwest, with outstanding cultural, ecological and recreational values.

Rather than restoring a degraded river, this mostly seated coach tour showcases how proactive, collaborative catchment management – including revegetation, scientific research and community partnerships – is protecting the river before largescale restoration becomes necessary. Participants will explore the challenges facing the catchment and learn how community-led action is helping safeguard this remarkable river for future generations.

Meeting points:
PICK UP 1 – 8am: Busselton Community Resource Centre; 21 Cammilleri St, Busselton WA 6280
PICK UP 2 – 9am: Margaret River Community Centre; 21/33 Tunbridge St, Margaret River Western Australia 6285 

Tour stops: 

• Jindong–Treeton farm revegetation site 

• Barrett Street fishway 

• Margaret River mouth (time permitting) 

Duration: Approximately 3-3.5 hours, including coach travel. 

What participants will experience:

• Visit an upstream farm revegetation project and discuss its role in landscape-scale restoration protecting river health. 

• Explore how science is informing catchment management in a changing climate. 

• Hear how community research is shaping behaviour change and stewardship programs. 

• Visit the Barrett Street fishway to learn about freshwater biodiversity and collaborative conservation. 

• Discuss the partnerships and approaches helping protect one of the South West’s healthiest rivers, and consider how they could be applied in other catchments. 

Requirements:

• Travel by chartered coach. 

• Easy to moderate walking (up to 2 km) on uneven tracks and river paths. 

• Participants should wear enclosed shoes, a hat, sunscreen and weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a water bottle.  

• Some locations have uneven ground and limited accessibility.