How often have you driven past this building on Safety Bay Road and wondered what was inside?
About 90% of the residents of the Rockingham area know that this is the environment centre but far fewer have ever stopped to have a look at the work being done here.
The centre is all about sustainable living and educating people how to use resources wisely. The centre itself uses renewable energy such as solar and wind to generate electricity. Currently
about 33% of the centre's power comes from renewable energy and plans are being developed to increase this further.
The centre was established by Bob Goodal with the assistance of the Rockingham City Council which leases the land to the centre.
There are a number of interesting exhibits in the centre including a butterfly garden where you can see the various stages of the butterfly lifecycle from egg to caterpillar, chrysalis and finally to the adult butterfly.
The centre does not receive regular government funding but operates on grants, gate fees and public donations. (Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.) There are five permanent staff
members and a virtual army of volunteers whose dedication and hard work have seen the centre develop and expand over the years.
Grow your own.
Many people no longer have large back gardens and there is less and less opportunity to grow your own vegetables. The centre rents out small garden plots at a very modest rate (currently less
than $1 a week over 12 months) so that those with no garden of their own can still enjoy planting and harvesting their own vegetables.
The main message with the vegetable garden is go organic.
No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used and the resulting harvest is fresh and healthy.
For those who have a bit of a green thumb and like to get their hands dirty, the vegetable plots offer a chance to re-connect with the Earth. This is especially suitable for older
folks who are now living in units or flats.
The centre does not receive regular government funding but operates on grants, gate fees and public donations. (Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.) There are five permanent staff
members and a virtual army of volunteers whose dedication and hard work have seen the centre develop and expand over the years.
Regenerating native plants
Naragebup not only grows native plants for its own use but operates a small plant nursery where seedlings are cultivated and grown until they are large enough to plant out into local native wetland areas.
Turtle Rehab.
The centre is the only accredited turtle rehabilitation centre in the South West. Each year winter storms sweep many turtles south where they get deposited on the beaches along the metropolitan coast.
The lucky ones are brought in to the centre and nursed back to health before being shipped north to Monkey Mia where they are released.
Local freshwater turtles that are injured by dogs, cars etc. are also brought in to the centre and helped to recuperate before being put back into the local lakes and ponds where they came from.
Emphasis on education
The main aim of the centre is to educate people in the ways we can live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Groups from schools regularly visit the centre to not only enjoy seeing the animals and natural surroundings, but to find out more about how they can use natural resources in ways that
lower our impact on the natural world.
The centre employs an Education Officer to conduct various educational programmes.
Native Wetland
A native wetland display is being developed at the centre that will allow people (especially children) to use a net and catch some of the small creatures that live in our local lakes and backyard ponds.
Microscopes are available for viewing some animals that are usually difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye.
The wetland display is combined with a native garden that shows which plants you can use in your home garden to replace the water wasting European plants that really have no place in Australia.
Other displays
The centre houses a small reptile collection, a number of aquariums, a frog garden and a bush tucker garden. There is also an excellent gift shop with all sorts of arts and craft gifts.
With Christmas just around the corner you should think about dropping in to find something much more unique and personal than you will find in the big chain stores.
If you are interested in native plants then the centre houses an extensive herbarium that will help you to identify many local species.
The centre has their own website where you can find out more about what is currently going on and how you can support the excellent work being done there. If you have a few spare hours each
week think about joining the friendly group of volunteers who continue to make this centre a great success.
