Helping hands needed for Grow West planting day
Grow West is asking for the help of green-thumbed volunteers to join a community planting day from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, 20 July, to plant 4,000 native seedlings along Korjamnunnip Creek on Wurundjeri Country in Ballan.
Grow West is an ambitious landscape restoration program that works with local communities, west of Melbourne, to create a sustainable future for our native plants and animals.
This year’s planting day will focus on two planting zones to improve links between the creek and nearby habitats for native species. The volunteers will plant indigenous seedlings grown locally at the Moorabool Landcare Network Nursery. Rangers from the Wurundjeri Narrap Unit will be assisting with planting and guarding on the day, aiming to enrich and heal Country.
“Replanting Korjamnunnip Creek will be a big help to the local platypus population by slowing the stream during extreme weather,” said President of the Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance, Dr Jodie Valpied.
“Slowing the flow of water into the creek helps protect the burrows where platypuses are raising their young."
Korjamnunnip Creek is a tributary of Pykes Creek Reservoir, which connects to the Werribee River. With many rural headwater streams and creeks on private property, Grow West actively engages with landholders to improve the natural assets on their property, for native wildlife to survive and thrive.
Local farmers Sarah and Marty have been working with neighbouring landholders to create a greenbelt for native animals along the creek.
“We are excited to welcome the Grow West community to our property and look forward to revegetating our beautiful creek to protect the habit of the platypus.”
“The greenbelt we’ve been collectively also includes wombats, wallabies, echidnas, kangaroos and wedge tail eagles.”
Grow West is hosted by Melbourne Water as the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for the Port Phillip and Western Port region. CMAs deliver land, water, and biodiversity programs throughout Victoria.
“Over the last 22 years, more than 3,000 Grow West volunteers have rehabilitated over 2,500 hectares of land,” said Grow West Coordinator, Lindy MacRaild.
The Victorian Government also supports the Grow West community planting day through the Green Links program. The community planting day is facilitated by Melbourne Water, Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee, Moorabool Landcare Network, Fifteen Trees, Bacchus Marsh Lions Club, Victorian Mobile Landcare Group, the Victorian National Parks Association, and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Narrap Unit.
If you are interested in participating, lunch and refreshments will be provided to all our wonderful volunteers.
Bring your own plates and cups, if you can, to reduce waste.
For more information and to register, visit Grow West website.
Media enquiries:
03 9679 7004
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