In late 2020, the City’s environmental staff began major improvements to the Elkhorn Avenue, Edencourt Drive and Tiger Circle Reserves in Southern River.

These reserves have high conservation value and form part of a buffer to Balannup Lake, which is a Bush Forever Site. Balannup Lake which covers 19 hectares is under the ownership of the Western Australian Planning Commission. The City manages approximately 4 ha of natural area reserves that border Balannup Lake which provide an important recreational space for the local community’s enjoyment.

The protection and enhancement of these reserves is imperative to the long term conservation of Balannup Lake. The City's improvements to the site have included removing woody weeds and woody debris as well as installing a limestone track and vehicular wetland crossing to provide access for both maintenance and the public. The City undertakes regular maintenance activities at the site including weed control and rubbish removal.

The City started revegetation of the degraded parts of the reserves in 2021, which included installing over 13,500 native seedlings and 229 native advanced trees. Approximately 60% of the native advanced trees are suitable for foraging, breeding or roosting by the threatened black cockatoos, resident to the site.

In 2022, the City installed a further 22,250 native seedlings within the reserves and in 2023 the City will be installing 17,000 seedlings within the reserves. Part of the planting in 2023 is infill planting, which involves replacing seedlings that have not survived.

Edencourt Drive reserve held the ‘Give our Bushland a Boost’ event in 2022, and will be holding the community planting event again on the 11 June 2023. This is a great opportunity for the community to get involved in the restoration of bushland in their local area.

A map of the past and proposed revegetation areas at the reserves is shown below:

Revegetation Map