Also known as the River Training Scheme, an event occurred that is very out of step with modern appreciation of interfering with our environment and negative consequences of doing so.
In 1947 and subsequently agreed to by all involved Shires at the time, funding from the Government was sought to de snag 160km of river from Yenyenning Lakes to Toodyay. After the de snagging, much of the river bed was deep ripped with the intention of creating faster flow of the deep V rivers. Action commenced in 1955.
Consequences to the natural environment were catastrophic; the deep pools, the native fishes, marsupials such as the Rakali, and the worms and mussels they fed on.
Local Beverley resident, former Shire President, Fred Bremner was heavily involved with the river and his records of the time are invaluable in understanding how these decisions came about, and his perspective on the consequences and solutions to rectify the damage.
Fred’s book “BULLDOZING THE AVON Western Australia’s Avon River and its catchment since 1946” Parker Print 2015 ISBN: 978-0-646-93510-2 is available in the Beverley Library located in the Community Resource Centre, Vincent Street Beverley.
The author agreed for it to be scanned and it is available here for download. Bulldozing-the-Avon.pdf