Partnerships with purpose
Water Corporation’s commitment to restoration makes seagrass shine
We’ve all heard the saying “teamwork makes the dream work”. Many people are reminded of playing on a sports team as a child and hearing the term used as a way to encourage players to come together to win the game. In adulthood, similar expressions are common in the workforce as a way to motivate us. These sayings are now etched into our psyche and emphasize the power of collaboration for a common goal.
Right now, there is no greater goal than repairing our environment. Working together is no longer optional – it is imperative.
The State of the Environment Report announced in July 2022 makes clear to Aussies that our country’s heathy environment barometer is dire. The challenge is so big we all need to be part of the solution – individuals, families, businesses small and large, including all levels of government.
It is critical that businesses are preparing now for the issues that they will be confronted with in the coming years. Working together allows us to harness the collective effort toward change, it creates awareness, mobilises more resources and builds resilience to future challenges.
One of the first organisations to invest in habitat restoration was our major partner BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing, who believed in the impact OzFish could make and wanted to invest in a sustainable future for their customers. They noticed what was on the horizon and saw an opportunity to take the lead.
When these types of partnerships are formed, the collection of resources and talents brought to the table can lead to innovative solutions and greater efficiency in implementing habitat restoration projects.
An example of a powerful partnership on a local level is Water Corporation, which recently supported the delivery of our Seeds for Snapper seagrass restoration initiative in Western Australia.
Water Corporation is the principal supplier of water, wastewater, drainage, and bulk irrigation services to hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses, and farms across Western Australia.
Karen Willis, General Manager Customer and Community at Water Corporation, explains why the organisation put its support behind delivering Australia’s largest community-driven seagrass restoration project in Cockburn Sound.
“Water is intrinsic to our WA lifestyle and makes our state a great place to live and invest. Traditionally, our long-term planning was in anticipation for population growth. Today, it is about future-proofing our precious water supply against climate change,” said Ms Willis.
“We need the support of our WA community to help us build a thriving, sustainable water future for all. This is why we proudly align with organisations that drive the state’s growth, increase awareness of our environment, and enable a greater platform to inspire and educate – OzFish fits that bill.
“Partnering with OzFish allows us to raise awareness about the ecological value of Perth’s waterways and coastlines. Seagrass is critical to ocean health. It not only provides shelter and food for fish and aquatic life, but also stores carbon and nutrients. This improves water quality and helps combat the impacts of climate change.”
Invaluable support to create a winning team
It’s certainly not a one-way street though. Working with us brings a lot of benefits to our partners too, including achieving a common goal, reaching target audiences, fostering a sense of community and wellbeing among staff, and offering new experiences.
Water Corporation provided the project with not only funding, but also a charter boat to help disperse the seagrass seeds, and more than 100 staff volunteers.
What made some of the greatest efficiency to the project was the expertise of Water Corporation’s engineers. They played a key role in making the 2022 Seeds for Snapper the biggest year yet. The team assisted with improving the design of the onshore pop-up tank systems, which ensured the fruit collected was kept in optimum conditions, including water temperature for seed survival before being dispersed.
OzFish WA Program Manager Steve Pursell said “Ultimately, our 2022/23 harvest wouldn’t have been as successful if it wasn’t for the work that Water Corporation put in.”
Ms Willis added:
“Providing our staff with a volunteering opportunity that fosters community stewardship was something they really valued.
“More than 100 staff volunteers contributed to the fruit collecting and processing at Woodman Point and the team absolutely loved the experience.
“Our partnership with OzFish delivers many outcomes that align with our environmental goals and connects us with the local community.
Incredible results and further opportunities
Through the work of all community partners, the Seeds for Snapper project saw more than one million seagrass seeds returned to the coastal waters of Western Australia.
Our members, Water Corporation staff and the local community came together to contribute more than 2,500 volunteer hours. That included 404 individual dives across 43 sessions.
All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners. We want to keep growing the success of our existing projects and introduce even more in new areas where habitat restoration is needed.
If you or your organisation would like to be part of an innovative team, creating immediate and lasting benefits for Australian communities and waterways, then please get in touch via info@ozfish.org.au.
Read more about Seeds for Snapper in Western Australia by following the link below.
