Merri Creek Management Committee

Well done to Friends of Merri Creek for receiving a a Special Commendation, which was equivalent to coming second in the National Urban Landcare Award. The winner was Georges River Combined Councils’ Committee in NSW, which consists of nine Councils as well as agencies and community representatives within the catchment of Georges River, which runs into Botany Bay. It’s like a supersized version of MCMC.

Merri Creek Management Committee congratulates the Friends of Merri Creek President, David Redfearn, on being awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the General Division, in the 2012 Australia Day Awards.
David was honoured for his service to conservation and the environment, to local government, and to the community. Besides being President of Friends of Merri Creek since 2004, he was also President of Merri Creek Management Committee from 1990-99. Other organisations to which he has made a substantial contribution include: inaugural President of Yarra Riverkeeper Association from 2004-09; Mayor, City of Northcote from 1984-85 and 1986-87, and a Councillor from 1982-93. In 2000, David was also was awarded the City of Darebin Citizen of the Year.
 

In June, the Victorian Government released its final North Growth Corridor Plan, dedicating even more land in the Merri catchment to urban uses. This growth ‘planning’ leaves an indecently narrow corridor along much of Merri Creek, locates a major town centre (Lockerbie) straddling the creek, proposes a non-existent habitat link from Merri Creek to a yet to be defined Red Gum Woodland reserve in Wollert, and whittles away other proposed conservation areas.

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Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) has won grants totalling almost $40,000 from Melbourne Water’s Corridors of Green program for weed control in Craigieburn.

A $19,993 grant will restore weedy patches in the parklands around Aitken Creek, a tributary of Merri Creek. The project is a partnership between MCMC and Hume City Council that aims to enhance the magnificent redgums and endangered vegetation in the Aitken Creek parklands. During 2012 and 2013 the project will fund weed control and planting works amongst a stretch of quality indigenous vegetation. This will further encourage Natural regeneration of native plants adjoining Aitken Creek.

A $19,909 grant will consolidate and enhance large scale woody weed control on the Merri Creek across the Merri creek from Rushwood Drive, Craigieburn. The project aims to create a flora and fauna habitat node to link Rushwood Drive Reserve with Galgi Ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands), directly opposite.