A major environmental restoration project is now underway along Albany’s King River Warracoolyup, with works set to transform almost 10 kilometres of streambank vegetation and improve the health of local waterways.
Funded through the Albanese Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the $1.1 million initiative will restore 97 hectares of riparian habitat, helping to protect native plants, animals and local communities. The Oyster Harbour Catchment Group is delivering the project with support from the City of Albany, the Southern Aboriginal Corporation, and the Western Australian Government.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said the project would deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity and community well-being.
“This restoration work along the King River Warracoolyup will enhance river health, improve biodiversity, and support long-term sustainability in the region,” Watt said. “The works will benefit a number of important threatened species that rely on the river and its streamside environments, including the rakali, the endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo and the western ringtail possum.”
Targeted restoration will include the removal of invasive plants, fencing to protect remnant vegetation, erosion control, and extensive revegetation using native species. The lower reaches of the King River and its mouth into Oyster Harbour contain extensive coastal salt marshes, a nationally protected ecological community.
Watt said the project builds on the government’s ongoing commitment to improving the health of urban waterways.
“The Albanese Government is proud to support initiatives like this that restore habitat for native species and provide improved access to nature for local communities,” he said.
The King River Warracoolyup Community-led Restoration Project aims to reverse decades of degradation caused by land clearing, urbanisation and agricultural use. Approximately 96 per cent of the King River catchment has been cleared, leaving fringing vegetation in poor condition and the river vulnerable to nutrient runoff and erosion.
Revegetation and monitoring activities are planned from June 2025 to June 2028, with support from the Natural Heritage Trust. The project will improve connectivity and habitat complexity for species such as the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), which serves as a key indicator of ecosystem recovery. Nine native fish and crayfish species, including three endemic to the region, will also benefit from the works.
As part of the broader project, a draft Vegetation Management Plan for the Meadowlake Wetlands has been developed by consultant Wendy Bradshaw, outlining targeted actions across five restoration sites. These include invasive weed removal, replanting with native rushes and paperbarks, managing dieback risk, and reintroducing jointed twig sedge (Baumea articulata) to act as a natural biofilter and stabilise banks. The plan also highlights the importance of community participation and ongoing weed control to ensure long-term success.
A cultural heritage report will guide rehabilitation to protect heritage values, and a community engagement program will include workshops, open days and signage to connect residents with the project.
Oyster Harbour Catchment Group Chairperson Wendy Bradshaw said community collaboration was essential to the project’s success.
“This work will not only improve water quality and biodiversity but also reconnect people with the river,” she said. “Healthy rivers are the foundation of healthy communities, and restoring King River’s ecological balance will have lasting benefits for both.”
The project’s outcomes are expected to enhance the ecological health of the King River Warracoolyup while retaining public access and recreational value.
More information on the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program and the King River restoration can be found at environment.gov.au.