Two crisp mornings in June saw locals come together to take part in community planting sessions at Galup (Lake Monger), nurturing a green legacy for generations to come.
Friends of Galup/Lake Monger organise these events as part of a broader effort to restore native vegetation and ecological balance to the 70-hectare lake — one of Perth’s largest and most cherished urban wetlands.
Revegetation of the lake’s foreshore has been more than 25 years in the making. Starting with swales on the eastern side, non-native species have gradually been replaced with local flora. The southern shoreline is now entering its final stage. While bark chips used in earlier phases drew some criticism, the resulting greenery — alive with birds — has been warmly welcomed by most.
More than 140 volunteers turned out early in the morning to plant a 7,900 native plants, including sedges, groundcovers, creepers, small shrubs and trees.
Families — including children — knelt, trowels in hand, digging in the next generation of plants along the lake’s western edge.
“This kind of work is practical, rewarding, and deeply needed,” said Maura Marshall, one of the group’s organisers.
Chairperson Diana Blackie said the Town of Cambridge supported the group’s ongoing efforts.
“They have supplied 5,000 native plants annually for several years and dig planting holes with an auger,” she said. “This support has been essential to our success.”
Restoration is about more than aesthetics — it’s about protecting water quality. With 23 stormwater drains flowing into the lake, pollutants like fertiliser and road runoff regularly fuel algal blooms and threaten aquatic life.
Native vegetation helps absorb excess nutrients, reduce erosion and filter runoff — providing a defence against ecological decline.
Galup/Lake Monger forms part of the Beeliar Regional Park system and offers vital habitat for black swans, long-necked turtles, and more than 30 bird species. Urban wetlands cover just a fraction of their original area across the Swan Coastal Plain, over 80 per cent have been lost to drainage and development, fragmenting habitats and displacing wildlife.
Galup — meaning “place of fire” in Noongar — was once a site of gathering and ceremony, but also carries a history of colonial violence.
Friends of Galup/Lake Monger support greater First Nations involvement in the lake’s future. Management decisions are made jointly by Traditional Owners and the Town of Cambridge.
Beyond the environmental benefits, these planting sessions offer important social connections. For many mature residents, such gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity to meet neighbours, share stories, and enjoy a sense of community.
“This wasn’t just planting,” said one volunteer. “It was healing. It was community.”
By restoring Galup/Lake Monger, the community is helping to preserve this green sanctuary not just for today, but as a treasured space for grandchildren and generations to come.
If people would like to support this legacy beyond the occasional dig, consider becoming a paid member of Friends of Galup/Lake Monger — and help protect and restore this treasured place for generations to come.
