Mandurah's wetlands is vital for many, with businesses and animals alike relying on the health of the waterways.
This was clear on Monday night as the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the signing of the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Many locals who work in and for our waterways came together to recognise the significance of the Peel-Harvey estuary.
Visit Mandurah general manager Anita Kane highlighted the flow on effect the waterways had on tourism.
"Without a health estuary we wouldn't have a healthy fish population so we wouldn't have a food bowl for our wildlife," she said.
"Our wild dolphins are so important and the flow on effects of visitor economy due to the wetlands and the waterways is so significant.
"The wetlands are undoubtedly central to everything that makes Mandurah a success as a tourism destination."
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This was echoed by City of Mandurah natural environments executive manager Neil Carroll who said the waterways stimulate considerable economic activity in the region.
"Not only is the Peel-Harvey estuary central to our natural environment it also plays an important economic and social role in our community," he said.
Many people working to improve the health of Peel-Harvey estuary also spoke at the event, with Coastal Waste Warriors founder Kirstin Field talking about the impact the volunteer group has had on the environment.
"Two years since starting Coastal Waste Warriors we've collected over two tonnes of litter," she said.
"We've had over 1400 volunteers over the years and we've collected over 40,000 pieces of litter from our waterways."
Salt and Bush Eco Tours owner Jamie van Jones said her and her partner, Sebastian were starting an environmental not-for-profit in the region.
"We thought we needed to do something more than just our business," she said.
"We started our not-for-profit, which is all about ecology education. It's inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards."
The Dandjoo Gabi Wonga sundowner was presented by Peel-Harvey Catchment Council through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program and the City of Mandurah. The sundowner event was linked to the 2021 WA Wetlands Management Conference organised by The Wetlands Centre Cockburn, which was brought to Mandurah in 2021 with support from conference sponsors including Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and City of Mandurah.
