Two critically endangered species, the lowland Leadbeater’s Possum and Helmeted Honeyeater, are a step closer to sharing protected habitat with earthworks underway on 35 hectares of new wetlands.
Spearheaded by Yarra Valley Water, this innovative collaborative project will use recycled water from the Upper Yarra Sewage Treatment Plant to create climate-resilient, swamp forest habitat the animals can rely on.
Other project partners committed to this conservation effort include Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Zoos Victoria, Melbourne Water, Greening Australia, North East Link Project, Jacobs and Yarra4Life.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director Pat McCafferty said the start of earthworks in Launching Place is an important milestone in the Upper Yarra Restoration Project.
“It’s fantastic to get work underway that will realise our vision to make better use of land we own and create new wetlands with the recycled water we produce to preserve endangered flora and fauna species,” Mr McCafferty said.
When the restoration is complete, Yarra Valley Water anticipates the site will support approximately 50 lowland Leadbeater’s Possums and 100 Helmeted Honeyeaters.
The two species are Victoria’s faunal emblems and, as of April 2025, there are less than 40 lowland Leadbeater’s Possums and fewer than 250 Helmeted Honeyeaters left in the wild. Earlier this month, twenty one captive bred Helmeted Honeyeaters were released in Cardinia to help bolster the population.
Following the earthworks, Yarra Valley Water and its delivery partners will plant thousands of local native trees, bushes and grasses to create a habitat capable of supporting the conservation of these endangered animals. Recycled water produced at the treatment plant will establish and maintain the wetlands, which will mirror the endangered species’ natural environment.
The wetlands have been thoughtfully designed to minimise bushfire risk, with firebreaks and plants with reduced flammability, as well as the year-round supply of recycled water, all reducing risk. The site will also meet all Bushfire Management Overlay requirements.
The earthworks are anticipated to take around 12 months to complete and will be followed by planting activity during 2026.
More information about the Upper Yarra Restoration Project and can be found on the Yarra Valley Water website at: www.yvw.com.au /upper-yarra-restoration
