The Pilbara Environmental Offsets Fund (PEOF) team in collaboration with the Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation (RRKAC) and the Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee (PMMC) co-designed a comprehensive riparian management program focused on Jajiwurra (Robe River). This initiative aims to address environmental challenges and enhance the health of the riparian ecosystem through coordinated action among key stakeholders.
Monitoring and weed management
The program will begin with the establishment of monitoring sites and the implementation of best practice approaches to control Weeds of National Significance (WoNS). The primary weed species targeted in this initial phase include Parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata), Bellyache Bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia), and Mesquite (Prosopis species). Initial attention will be given to recorded occurrences of Parkinsonia in the riparian zones along Jajiwurra and to Bellyache Bush infestations around the Pannawonica area in collaboration with ongoing actions co-ordinated by PMMC. These locations will be the focal points for early intervention and management efforts.
Funding and program scope
In 2025, the Minister for Environment approved a grant of approximately $1.7 million to RRKAC, to be distributed over five years. This funding will support the delivery of a dedicated weed management program targeting Jajiwurra, areas surrounding Pannawonica and the Bungaroo Valley. The program is designed to respond specifically to the presence of WoNS, including Parkinsonia and Bellyache Bush, in these landscapes. The initial weed management activities begin a sequence of steps expected to contribute to the ongoing recovery and improvement of approximately 187.90 km of riparian vegetation.
Regulatory requirements and updates
Both riparian vegetation and good to excellent vegetation is required to be offset through the PEOF as a requirement under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, through implementation conditions in Ministerial Statements. Updates will be provided to keep stakeholders informed of progress and outcomes as the project develops.
Read more about the Pilbara Environmental Offsets Fund and other projects being delivered through the fund.
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