PLATYPUS LOVE LIVING IN DEEP CREEK
13 October 2005
Eight healthy platypus were found in Deep Creek in the Darraweit Guim area, during a recent survey by Melbourne Water and the Australian Platypus Conservancy.
Geoff Williams from the Australia Platypus Conservancy said he was pleased with the results of the survey, which aims to capture and identify a sample of the animals known to be in the system over one evening.
“The eight platypus- five adult males, two females and a juvenile male from last summer’s breeding season- were all in good condition,” Mr Williams said.
“We never expect to catch all of the population in one evening and this result is very positive.”
Melbourne Water Managing Director Rob Skinner said that the platypus surveys are conducted across greater-Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Urban Platypus Program.
“These surveys provide us with a good measure of the health of local rivers and creeks and the value of our water quality and habitat improvement works, such as willow removal, bank stabilisation and replanting.”
“This is a great result for Deep Creek and shows that that when we all work together to improve and protect our local rivers and creeks we help to create a healthy environment for populations of native animals such as platypus, fish and frogs,” Mr Skinner said.
The Melbourne Urban Platypus Program is a joint program between Melbourne Water and the Australian Platypus Conservancy and was started in 1995.
Melbourne Water invests about $26 million a year on a Healthy Rivers Program.