The federal and state governments are investing in game changing environmental projects that will restore critical habitat for our beloved platypus and threatened frogs and native fish species.
The landmark $24 million Platy Patch project will work to improve critical habitat at 14 sites across Victoria over the next four years under the guidance of Victoria’s leading ecological research centre, the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI).
The project is jointly funded by the federal government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Victorian government and Melbourne Water.
Platypus are considered vulnerable in Victoria, with evidence of a population decline across the state.
The species requires stable river and stream banks to burrow, as well as plenty of riverbank vegetation and woody habitat to provide food.
Rehabilitation works funded by the Platy Patch project will include extensive revegetation, weed control and replanting of woody habitat in waterways.
Smart water rain tanks will also be installed and used along Monbulk Creek to ensure creek flows are appropriate throughout the year.
Catchment Management Authorities, Melbourne Water, Coliban Water, One Tree Planted, Zoos Victoria, the Australian Platypus Conservancy, various local governments, Parks Victoria, Landcare and DEECA will work together with ARI on the restorative project.
The project is one of 11 in Victoria to share in $44.3 million of grant funding from the federal government’s Natural Heritage Trust under Round Two of the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.
This includes two projects with Melbourne Water, receiving almost $20 million in federal government funding and matching funding from the state government, that will ‘daylight’ approximately 1.7 kilometres of underground drains.
The Reimagining Eumemmerring Creek and Reimagining Tarralla Creek projects will bring water back to the surface, recreating natural, meandering waterways. The works will restore and preserve the habitats for a range of native mammals, waterbirds, fish and frog species, while also providing green spaces for the community to enjoy.
This complements the more than $609 million the Victorian government has invested since 2014 in biodiversity and the natural environment under Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, Victoria’s plan to stop the decline of our native plants and animals and improve our natural environment.
