AUGUST 2020 Newsletter of the Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC)Generous Donors Appreciate our 'Ribbon of Magic'
We were touched by appreciative comments from donors: You have created a ribbon of magic through the suburbs the Merri Creek travels. I've seen photos of the degraded state of the creek before community members started caring for it. The collective action has made a remarkable difference, creating a place that gives enormous value to the community and a wonderful environmental benefit. More Digital Jigsaw Puzzles
Thanks to Peter Batchelor of Internet Technology Services, for facilitating these puzzles. The benefits of 40 years of activism along the Merri
The McGregor's paper explores the importance of getting to know an area to be more a part of it and nature, and that areas suitable for outdoor adventure lie unnoticed near the centre of Melbourne. It outlines evidence that humans need nature in order to live happy, healthy lives and gives personal examples from Ann and Bruce's 40 years of activism on Merri Creek. It highlights the important role that community organisations like Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Merri Creek have played in caring for land and nature along Merri Creek, and the significance of the Victorian National Parks Association at the state level. The paper was originally presented to the Victorian Outdoor Education Conference in 2019. Photo: newspaper cutting of Ann and Bruce McGregor planting along Merri Creek in 1977. New Birds of Merri Creek posters Six more Merri bird signs have been placed at a number of sites along the Merri Creek Shared Path between the Birrarung/Yarra River and Moomba Park in Fawkner. The Birds of Merri Creek posters are a joint initiative of the Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Merri Creek. Read More Work begins on the 'Bequest site'
FoMC has contracted MCMC to develop the site over the next five years, tackling a fifth of the site at a time. MCMC will do the weed control and site preparation and organise community planting with indigenous plants. The whole Bequest sit' will be maintained in perpetuity, with planting and weed control undertaken as necessary. Successful Fungi of the Merri - Webinar
Help publish a full colour book on Fungi Read More Hanna Swamp: forgotten Wallan Wallan wetland
Despite agricultural drainage, Hanna Swamp's morphology persists across the bulk of its original footprint and it still temporarily inundates on a semi-regular basis. Natural wetlands are very forgiving ecosystems, capable of supporting plants that are especially adept at bouncing back after decent rainfall. Sustained recovery of Hanna Swamp is potentially only a single season away, as long as water is retained instead of drained away. Photo: Spectacular habitat recovery at Scale Swamp, near Dunkeld, SW Victoria in 2017, 3 years after restoration. Prior to restoration, this site was largely devoid of native vegetation and has a broadly similar agricultural drainage history to Hanna Swamp. © NGT Read More Successful froginar now on-line
There are over eight different types of frogs you can hear on a walk around Darebin, including Eastern Froglets, Marsh Frogs and Banjo (Pobblebonk) Frogs. Learn to recognise different frog calls using the Melbourne Water frog census app and collect citizen science data to help protect and manage frog habitat. Read More Pesticide Detectives - round 3 results
The nation-wide citizen science project is a collaboration between volunteer citizen scientists and RMIT University’s Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST). The program is investigating the occurrences and concentrations of pesticides in Australian waterways. Pesticides found in our waterways include those used in homes and gardens, as well as the pesticides used in agriculture. Read More Reporting rubbish and litter issues
The SnapSendSolve app makes reporting of rubbish easy. You use your phone to snap a photo and send a report. The app knows which Council area you are in. One of our staff members recently used SnapSendSolve for this photo of rubbish under the Moreland Rd bridge over Merri Creek. Moreland Council promptly responded and the rubbish was removed. Grant for Native Grassland
Read More Check our calendar for webinars and eventsAlthough our face-to-face community activities have been suspended due to the the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a number of webinars coming up, so check out our calendar. If you would like to be notified about these events, and for face-to-face events when they resume along Merri Creek, sign up here. You can choose to receive email notices for all events, for events in a specific area, or for certain types of events. |
Merri Creek Management Committee. 2 Lee St, East Brunswick, Victoria, Australia 3057 (view map in new window ) Phone:(03) 9380 8199 Email: admin@mcmc.org.au © Merri Creek Management Committee Do you want to receive email notifications of Merri Creek events? {modify|itemid:1489}Modify your Subscription{/modify} Not interested any more? Unsubscribe from all emails from MCMC Have you been forwarded this newsletter and you would like to subscribe? Its free! Go to http://mcmc.org.au/get-involved/subscribe |