Welcome to the Merri Creek Management Committee website

New Upper Merri Parklands - a promise to be kept

FOMC bus tour 1108 Merri at Merri Park c During the recent Victorian election campaign, the ALP promised to create the new Upper Merri Parklands. This is a welcome recognition of the importance of the upper Merri and the potential for continuous linked parkland along the entire length of Merri Creek. It reflects a 2016 joint initiative of MCMC, Friends of Merri Creek and Wallan Environment Group for the creation of the Greater Wallan-Merri Park, a living landscape for a liveable Melbourne. We look forward to the new Labor government delivering on this promise as prompt action is needed to secure the park.

Labor's commitment also included funding a feasability study for the Wallan Regional Park. This new park, centered on the former Hernes Swamp, is a key part of our vision for the Greater Wallan - Merri Park. It includes the potential to reinstate parts of the swamp, to create an attractive, biodiverse focus for the park.

(Photo: upper Merri Creek in Merriang.)

Plains Yam Daisy makes a show

Volunteers have been hard at work raising rare plants as part of the Friends of Merri Creek’s three-year Secret Seven seeds project, which aims to increase the seed supply of seven rare Merri Creek plant species. Northcote resident Jane Mullett has successfully raised Plains Yam Daisies to the seeding stage. She says "I am getting heaps of seeds off them. I am harvesting between 3-5 puffballs every second day!". The plants were initially grown by VINC.

The key stages in the growth of these plants has been documented by renowned local photographer, David Tatnall. See the superb sequence under 'Read More.'

This project is funded with the support of the Victorian Government. The Friends of Merri Creek have contracted MCMC to help deliver the project.

MCMC Flora & Fauna Report 2017-18

Western Golden-tip (Goodia medicaginea) See our latest Fauna & Flora report that summarises 53 sightings from our fauna book between October 2017 and September 2018, including Platypus and Eastern Rosellas (which are rare in the lower Merri). While our flora report includes the Fireweed Groundsel, Senecio linearifolius, which is only known to be at Moomba Park Fawkner, and our experimental planting of White Elderberry, Sambucus gaudichaudiana, the endangered Tough Scurf-Pea, Cullen tenax, as well as the rare Western Golden-tip, Goodia medicaginea.

Waterwatch water quality workshop

Sunday 17 March, 10am-3.30pm
Van Raay Centre Room 3 CERES, Brunswick East - map here.
Free training session to become a volunteer Waterwatch monitor. No previous experience necessary. By monitoring water quality and biological indicators and observing the environment we can learn about the health of waterways and help identify problems. All equipment, training manual, technical support and advice are provided and you will receive a certificate on completion. Bookings essential below. This event is funded by Melbourne Water.

Waterwatch Waterbug community sampling

Sunday 31 March, 10am-1pm
Join the Merri Creek Management Committee Waterwatch Coordinator on the upper Merri Creek in Donnybrook to collect data on waterbug diversity for Melbourne Water project priorities. The session will cover sampling and collecting of live macroinvertebrates, and identifying live macroinvertebrates to family level in order to determine the water quality of the Merri creek. Lunch is provided. Some previous experience with macroinvertebrate identification is preferred. Bookings essential below. This event is proudly funded by Melbourne Water.

Faultlines to belonging: the ground of cooperation

Angela Foley Dave Wandin in conversation A recent evening event looked at intercultural cooperation and being careful together on Wurundjeri Country. Uncle Dave Wandin, from the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation & Cultural Heritage Council, and MCMC’s Special Engagement Programs Coordinator, Angela Foley, were in conversation at the Institute of Postcolonial Studies. Uncle Dave and Angela referred to many places of connection over ten years of projects on Wurundjeri Country and in particular, projects focussed on the confluence of Merri Creek and the Yarra River (Birrarung), for example the Merri-Yarra Biik project. The conversation was facilitated by Prof Libby Porter from RMIT University.

A current Wurundjeri - MCMC partnership project continues the focus on the Merri-Yarra confluence. It is supported by a three year grant from the City of Yarra’s Investing in Community Grants, with the first year close to completion.