Volunteers working hard to rejuvenate a local waterway west of York, have been recognised for their efforts in the WA Landcare Awards. The Talbot Brook Land Management Association has won the Department of Water “River Rats” award for 2011. The region’s peak natural resource management group has extended its congratulations to the 80 volunteers. Wheatbelt NRM’s Natarsha Woods said Talbot Brook helped make up an important part of a bigger environmental jigsaw puzzle. “13 Mile Creek and Talbot Brook both flow into the Avon River, the focal point for much of the environment within the Wheatbelt,” Natarsha Woods said. “It’s work like this from many tireless community members that’s helping to cut nutrient and sediment loads into the river.” The president of the Talbot Brook Land Management Association Colin Cable said volunteers had fenced seven kilometres of tributary and planted more than 60,000 trees. “We engaged the Bush Ranger cadets from Emmanuel Catholic College at Beelar and the Ross Strata Primary School at Willeton,” Colin Cable said. “Our volunteers, who were mainly local landholders, also planted out rushes to filter out sediment, fertiliser and detergents. “There was just a natural desire to do something with this environment, and it’s really started to pay off.” Colin Cable said the award gave the group recognition for their years of hard work. “Since the group formed in 1993, the community has pulled together and planted more than half a million seedlings and fenced 150 kilometres of fence line,” he said. Natarsha Woods said the Talbot Brook Land Management Association was one of Wheatbelt NRM’s 50 member groups, helping to shape natural resource management in the region. Media contact: Natarsha Woods, Wheatbelt NRM, 9690 2250