Wetlands taskforce set to meet

The first meeting of the new ministerial taskforce to tackle the health of the Vasse-Wonnerup wetlands will be held next Friday with Water Minister Mia Davies.

The taskforce is the State Government's response to an independent review of the Ramsar-listed wetlands and the health of the Geographe catchment.

At a community seminar on Tuesday, Department of Water district manager Dr Kath Lynch said the minister had taken a special interest in this issue. Dr Lynch said the taskforce's first priorities were to establish clear roles, update the fish kill mitigation responsibility plan, get a signed Vasse Estuary Technical Working Group memorandum of undertaking and create communication and business plans.

The 12-month taskforce plan would include catchment drainage models and feasibility studies.

Resident Vern Bussell said some people had concerns about the Department of Water taking a lead on the issue when "they had not had great results in the past".

Dr Lynch said the new approach would be a much bigger co-ordination role for the department than they had before, but people could write to the minister if they were concerned.

In response to questions about what could be achieved in 12 months, Dr Lynch said while it was "probably optimistic", Ms Davies knew it was a complex and challenging issue.

"If we want to get any traction (on the issue), it will be in this 12- month period."

About 50 people attended the seminar on Tuesday.

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