Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Community protects rare wildlife in Melbourne's north
Tussocky grasses re-planted on Natural Temperate Grassland
Chilean Needle Grass, an aggressive weed found in the area
Members of Elite Customer Services spreading mulch around recent tree and shrub plantings
A project to protect plants and animals at risk of extinction along the Merri Creek in Melbourne's north has won generous support from hundreds of volunteers.
The Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) has been working to stop weeds from smothering endangered plant communities at eight sites along the 70-kilometre waterway, which begins on Melbourne's northern outskirts and joins the Yarra River at Collingwood.
Plants under threat include Western Basalt Plains Grasslands and the shrublands found along nearby streambanks and on rocky escarpments. Little remains of their former range due to clearing for farming and housing, and today they are only found in small, weed-infested patches.
Nevertheless these communities provide habitat for an assortment of skinks, snakes, birds of prey and ground-dwelling birds. The critically endangered Golden Sun Moth depends on the grasslands for survival, their lava living underground and feeding on the grass's roots.
Funding
The project received $140,000 from the Australian Government, as well as support and other contributions from the Victorian Government.
One of the main messages promoted was the seriousness of the threat posed by garden plants. Many of these plants become environmental weeds after being spread through the dumping of garden waste and when their seeds are dispersed by the wind, water and animals.
Activities and achievements
The on-ground work was supported by about 400 people from the surrounding northern suburbs who undertook weeding and planting activities across five municipalities from the inner suburb of North Fitzroy to the fringe suburbs of Craigieburn and Epping.
MCMC Manager Luisa Macmillan said the volunteers who turned up to the 10 community activity days contributed to weeding and planting across about 30 hectares.
"The turn out was terrific and made a big impact on weeds such as gorse, Chilean needle grass and serrated tussock," Luisa said. "Weeds and the lack of regular ecological burning in the grasslands are key threats to the catchment's biodiversity."
"Burns were carried out across three hectares of grasslands, promoting regeneration and helping the follow-up weed control. Replanting focused on linking remnant patches to create wildlife corridors using plants such as River Red Gum, Silver Banksia and Snowy Daisy-bush."
A number of community groups were involved in the project, including the Friends of Merri Creek, Friends of the Earth, Green Corps 'Choppers' of Rushall and the Friends of Craigieburn Grasslands.
Participating educational institutions included RMIT Univeristy, Fawkner Secondary College, Deakin University and the National Association of University Campus Colleges.
More information
- Luisa Macmillan, MCMC Manager: (03) 9380 8199 or luisa@mcmc.org.au
- MCMC website: www.mcmc.org.au
- Friends of Merri Creek website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fomc/
See also
Key
Links to another web site
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