February 2026

From the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator

Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator and the Merri Creek Management Committee. Please find below information on local initiatives, opportunities and funding.

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If you would like to share photos, events, updates and projects through the Upper Merri Landcare News. Please email through your submissions to: 

Recent Events

Wallan Environment Group - nest box inspection

In December members of the Wallan Environment Group checked the nesting boxes along Wallan Creek. The boxes were built and installed there by local school students and scouts in 2023.
We were very pleased to find them being used. There were sugar gliders and ringtail possums in the boxes.
There are a lot of trees along this section of the creek that provide food and a safe passage for wildlife to move about the landscape, but very few of them have natural hollows.
Hollows are crucial for the shelter and breeding sites that much of our wildlife need.
The nesting boxes provide artificial homes that are helping the wildlife to persist in our area.

UPMC Landcare - Woody Weed Control Field Day

UPMC Landcare Group had a successful day for their Woody Weed Control Field Day. There was a big focus on managing Gorse, which is very common in the area.
A big thank you to the Victorian State Government's Partnership Against Pests program for providing the funding, Mitchell Shire Council, Victorian Gorse Taskforce, Spot On Drones and Mountain View Contracting with their amazing EcoBlade gorse solution.
Find out more in this article.

Nest box building workshop

The Hidden Valley Environment Sub-committee had a great morning at their nest box building workshop. They made nest boxes suitable for phascogales, gliders, ringtail possums and various species of native birds. Thanks to Chris Cobern for teaching us what to do and helping us when we got stuck. A big thank you to Craigieburn Bunnings for donating the materials. Most importantly, once we paint the boxes and install them, we will have lots of new homes for our wildlife friends.

Coming Up 

Merri Creek bird outings 

Friends of Merri Creek invite you to our first round of bird outings for 2026. Beginner-birders are welcome, as well as experienced birders. Bring binoculars if you have them, and closed-in footwear, sun hat or raingear if necessary, and drinking water. No dogs, please. Keep an eye out for snakes, especially if walking through grass near water.

Sunday 15th February
Galada Tamboore: Meet in Hatty Court, Campbellfield.
galgi ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands): Meet at the O'Herns Road gate off Hume Highway, Somerton. Note this survey will finish around 12 noon. Please contact the survey leader to register beforehand, and receive important information about galgi ngarrk and any last-minute changes: Bridget Gardner: 0417 519 251 or

Sunday 22nd February
bababi marning (Cooper St Grasslands): Meet in Cooper St service lane, just west of St George Chaldean Catholic Centre, Cooper St, Campbellfield.

Dung Beetle Farm Walk - Romsey

Join Jason McAinch from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council's Healthy Landscapes Program for a paddock walk. The focus of this session will be on dung beetles, their life cycle, their role in soil health and importantly, how to introduce/maintain dung beetles on your property.

When: Friday 27th February 
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Romsey
Register: here

Fencing Farm Dams - online event

Healthy dams and wetlands can increase on-farm productivity, biodiversity, livestock health and water security. When properly managed, they can also store carbon from our atmosphere, known as teal carbon. This webinar, that's organised by Landcare Victoria Inc, will bring together experts and landcarers to explore why you should give a damn about your farm dams. Join Martino Malerba from RMIT’s Centre for Nature Positive Solutions to learn more about the benefits of healthy dams.

When: Thursday 26th February 
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/fencing-farm-dams

Funding Opportunities

Melbourne Water Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program 

These grants, open all-year around, fund projects and longer term partnerships that provide value to Melbourne Water and the community by aligning with at least one of the following themes:

• Connected habitat and catchments
• Integrated water management (IWM) enablers
• Science, innovation and technology
• Liveable cities

Eligible activities include weed removal, revegetation, erosion control, signage, habitat creation, stormwater management, fencing, irrigation plans, farm layout design and more.

Individual landholders encouraged to find out more here.