The redevelopment of landscape surrounding the Liverpool Road retarding basin, in Boronia, is almost complete, with the revegetation of the parkland a top priority in protecting native endangered wildlife.
Minister for Water Harriet Shing visited the site today with Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor and Member Monbulk Daniela De Martino to help finish the job by planting trees with students from The Basin Primary School.
Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor said the work that Melbourne Water is doing in our community is making a big difference.
“The transformation at Liverpool Road makes it a more enjoyable experience for the community and considers the needs of native wildlife,” he said.
Students planted 300 shrubs and got to check out the new signs that’ve been installed around the park to welcome visitors and provide information about the biodiversity at the site.
Member for Mobbulk Daniela de Martino said it’s great to see the youth getting involved.
“The students from The Basin Primary School have done such a great job improving habitat in the park, making it look beautiful as well as growing their own understanding of the local environment and biodiversity,” she said.
The retarding basin – which was updated in 2016 – helps protect the local community from flooding, while endangered native animals will thrive thanks to the almost 12,000 indigenous plants added, the removal of weeds and the installation of fencing to keep dogs away from their habitat.
Minister for Water Harriet Shing said projects like this are helping to make our growing communities more sustainable, liveable and beautiful – developing parklands is also improving waterway health and providing important habitat for wildlife.
Liverpool Road retarding basin has significant conservation values and is home to several vulnerable or endangered vegetation communities including Swamp Scrub and Wet Verge Sedgeland which are relied on by Swamp Skink for the short, dense aquatic vegetation.
The large lake’s mix of deep and shallow open water – which flows from the Dandenong Creek – provides habitat for waterbirds such as Latham’s Snipe, Hardhead and Eastern Great Egret.
Melbourne Water Executive General Manager Service Delivery Sue Jackman said Melbourne Water is committed to investing in our waterways and the lands that surround them for the benefit of the community, wildlife and the environment so that they remain healthy and can be enjoyed by everyone today and for generations to come.
The revegetation program at Liverpool Road retarding basin started one year ago and was carried out with $380,000 in funding from Melbourne Water’s ‘Sites of Biodiversity’ allocation.
