In May 2021 MCMC stored 300 large pots of the endangered Matted Flax-lily Dianella ameona at its depot in Brunswick East. The plants were orginally part of a PhD research project into pollination at the University of Melbourne Burnley Campus, but are now destined for various sites in the Merri parklands in Fawkner, to extend pollination pathways.
The University gave the plants to MCMC after an infestation of Thrips changed the focus of the research project from pollination to Thrips. The GPS location of all plants will be recorded and the plantings arranged so that both large and small populations are located in sites of both poor and good quality vegetation to allow for future research projects on pollination.
See Merri Creek Management Committee's 2019-20 Flora and Fauna Report, with 94 fauna sightings, including rarely seen birds, Brush Cuckoo, Southern Boobook Owl and Pink Robin, as well as several rare and threatened flora species.
The first stage of a five-year plan for a 'Bequest site' next to Merri Creek in Oldis Gardens, Northcote, was completed by August 2020. The site was prepared, planted and mulched by Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) through the generosity of Geoff Richards. Geoff plans to leave a bequest to Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC) in memory of his partner, Harry Nash. However, he is keen to see some restoration at the site and is donating $5,000 p.a. for five years to FoMC to achieve this. The site, above a spectacular basalt escarpment, is close to where Geoff and Harry lived.
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.
FoMC is currently in discussion with Darebin City Council about a sign for the site which will be called The Harry Nash Indigenous Garden.
See Merri Creek Management Committee's 2018-19 Flora and Fauna Report, which includes the introduction of three rare grassland plants, a Powerful Owl, Growling Grass Frogs, and even a Striped Legless Lizard.
Federal Communities Environment Program: At very short notice we helped prepare eight Expressions of Interest for this grant program, in close consultation with Friends of Merri Creek and Wallan Environment Group. Seven of these applications were successful and the funded projects have been confirmed (details below). We are very appreciative of the support shown for Merri Creek restoration by our local federal MPs.
Hume City Council Community Partnership Grant: We are delighted to have a $10,000 grant for the first year of A Little Nature Play in Hume. The three-year project will enable Merri Creek Management Committee staff to support and lead outdoor nature play in the City of Hume. Funding for the second and third years is contingent on the success of the first year.
We have converted some unused space in our backyard at 2 Lee St Brunswick East into a Seed Production Area (SPA). Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative (VINC) kindly provided the plants which were installed into rows of drip-watered beds in mid-July 2019. The SPA will help ensure a steady supply of Merri-provenance seed is available for propagation by VINC, and for direct sowing by Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) into the Merri Creek grasslands.
More Articles …
- Managing an Urban Grassland Interface
- Ecological Restoration projects 2013-14
- Fauna Report 2014-15
- Annual Flora and Fauna Report 2017 18
- Saving Secret Saline Seeps at Galada Tamboore
- Flora and Fauna Report 2017-18
- Linking up Blue Banded Bees and Matted Flax-lilies
- Big River Restoration with Collingwood Children's Farm
- Plains Yam Daisy makes a show
- Aitken Creek's Living Pathways
- S’ WOT you got? A grant for SWOT!
- Two missions accomplished
- Flora & fauna sightings - late 2017
- Discovering Frogs in Reservoir
- Flora and Fauna restoration efforts 2016-17
- Merri Woodlands Catch a (Bird) Wave
- Wildlife Gardening - in Summer
- Keeping the Merri on the Map
- The Elder Mother
- New project on the Yarra
- Restoration V Rehabilitation
- Sun Moths, Short Grass and Fences
- Another Pollinator Project - makes 7Bs!
- 2015-16 Flora and Fauna Report
- Buzzing around the wild pollinators
- MCMC discovers a rare butterfly
- Helping Set Ecological Standards for Restoration
- Habitat Heroes get excellent report
- Habitat Heroes project
- Sowing the seed for a rare daisy’s future
- Dogs and Merri Creek Parkland: Sharing the Space
- Habitat Heroes
- Daisy-chain links the centuries
- Volunteering with MCMC’s Ecological Restoration Team - Individual volunteers, student placements and internships
- Restoration at Kalkallo
- Restoring a Native Grassland Community
- MCMC's Ecological Restoration Work Highly Commended
- Ngarri-djarrang (Central Creek Grassland)
- Bababi Djinanang grassland (Jukes Rd grassland)
- Kalkallo-Donnybrook North Railway Reserve
- Bald Hill Grasslands detail
- Galada Tamboore Significance
- galgi ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands) in Detail
- Bababi Marning (Cooper St Grassland) Significance
- galgi ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands)
- Moomba Park
- Galada Tamboore
- Uncover, Recover & Discover your Merri Creek.
- Our Business Services
Merri Events Calendar
10:00AM - 12:30PM
Friends of Edwardes Lake World Environment Day Planting
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Litter Clean Up – Coburg - Friends of Merri Creek
02:00PM - 03:30PM
Streamteam Water Quality Testing - Friends of Merri Creek
09:30AM - 11:30AM
Friends of Coburg Lake & Surrounds Wednesday Working Bee
09:30AM - 11:30AM
Friends of Coburg Lake & Surrounds Weekly Friday Working Bee
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Friends of Edwardes Lake Reservoir Frogs Water Quality Testing
09:30AM - 11:30AM
Friends of Coburg Lake & Surrounds Wednesday Working Bee
09:30AM - 11:30AM
Friends of Coburg Lake & Surrounds Weekly Friday Working Bee
09:00AM - 12:30PM
Friends of Edwardes Lake Planting
10:00AM - 12:30PM
Wetland Planting at Imaroo St Escarpment