Living Links

Living Links is a large scale, long-term urban nature program working in partnership across the Dandenong Creek Catchment to deliver a shared vision: “A connected network of thriving natural spaces where people are engaged with nature.”

The Living Links partnership was established in 2006 and it focuses on connecting and enhancing natural spaces, as well as helping people connect with nature in this predominantly urban setting. We achieve this by undertaking habitat restoration, managing key threats (including pest animals and invasive weeds) and supporting community engagement activities that raise awareness of the environmental values of these green spaces.

Living Links is a collaborative partnership across the Dandenong Creek Catchment, coordinated by Melbourne Water. Partners include 10 local councils, government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups that fund and deliver coordinated small and large-scale projects and on-ground works.

Our strategic goals are:

A connected network of thriving natural spaces.
Community engagement with nature.
Urban nature stewardship.

Why this program is important 

The Dandenong Catchment is highly urbanised, with around 60 per cent urban land cover. Urban pressure is continuing to increase, with the population predicted to rise from 1.4 to over 1.7 million people in the next 20 years, and an additional 7,000 dwellings required every year. A warmer and drier climate coupled with an increasingly urbanised landscape presents a major challenge to the long-term resilience of the catchment’s terrestrial natural assets - while at the same time increasing the importance of those spaces as a green and cool respite from the urban landscape.

Research shows that improving the connection between urban natural spaces provides a wide range of benefits, including biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, urban cooling and shading, and enhanced human health and wellbeing. It also makes it easier for people to connect with nature as part of their daily lives. The work of Living Links is particularly important because it is a collaboration between councils, government agencies and community groups. It works across municipal boundaries to plan and achieve bigger and better outcomes than if they worked separately. 

Report cards

Living Links Snapshot 2024-2025 PDF|14.72 MB

Partners

Living Links is a collaboration between numerous organisations and community groups, including:

Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
City of Bayside
City of Casey
City of Frankston
City of Greater Dandenong
City of Kingston
City of Knox
City of Monash
City of Maroondah
City of Whitehorse
Field Naturalist Club of Victoria
Greater Dandenong Environment Group
Melbourne Water
Parks Victoria
South East Water
Suburban Rail Loop Authority
Yarra Ranges Shire Council

Other partners occasionally provide input for relevant projects, including: The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Holmesglen TAFE, Melbourne and Federation Universities, Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Bushwalking Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning, Eastlink, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, Conservation Volunteers Australia, community volunteer and ‘Friends of’ Groups.

Location 

Living Links operates in the Dandenong Catchment, located in Melbourne’s south east. This area extends along the shores of Port Phillip Bay from St Kilda to Frankston and north-east to the foothills of Dandenong Ranges National Park. It is approximately 85,500 hectares and is home to 1.5 million people. 