Friends of Merri Creek | Community organisation

Friends of Merri Creek

Phone: (03) 9389 8633

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25.01.2022 Early morning walk at Walker Swamp, what a wonderful way to start the day!

24.01.2022 This was a fascinating half hour on the ABC's Off Track - listening and learning about frog calls. https://www.abc.net.au//offtrack/frog-accents-bonk/12899000 Including Dr Jodi Rowley, speaking at Frogs Victoria's December event: https://frogsvic.org/2020/11/

24.01.2022 Once more, with the link! Operator error.

23.01.2022 Waterbug surveys are a great way to learn about the creek and water quality issues - keep an eye out for opportunities to get some training and to participate - more in 2021!

23.01.2022 Another webinar from ACF Ceres - this time pollution along the Merri - next Tuesday night, 7pm. Email for the link to join in: https://www.mcmc.org.au//pollution-busting-on-the-merri-we

22.01.2022 Join us for our next webinar - Lifestyles of the Small and Inconspicuous - aquatic creatures of Merri Creek. Friday 9 October, 1:30-2:30pm Click here for the link - no need to register. https://www.mcmc.org.au//lifestyles-of-the-small-and-incon

20.01.2022 The opening up of Northcote Golf Course to the non-golfing public as open space during the recent lockdown was responded to with gusto. While we humans all loved the space, the green and the vistas - our wildlife loves these spaces too. A study 2011-2014 of biodiversity of green spaces - including golf courses - in the south eastern suburbs has shown that: "Golf courses contained the greatest diversity and abundance of beetles, bees, birds and bats of all the green spaces w...e studied. We found ground-nesting native bees that do not occur in much of the urban landscape because it is dominated by built surfaces and exotic flowering plants." There are links in the article to further work on the topic - including a post on wallaby sightings along the creek. https://theconversation.com/urban-golf-courses-are-biodiver See more

18.01.2022 This Thursday 2-3pm. Join Arthur Rylah Institute Senior Scientist Ivor Stuart to learn how carp impact our waterways and how an integrated approach can reduce this invasive species to enable ecosystem recovery. Carp control is a key to achieving healthy self-sustaining aquatic ecosystems. Since their escape in the 1960s carp have invaded much of the Australian continent with catastrophic ecosystem impacts. Registration essential:... https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/carp-a-50-year-history-of-e See more

18.01.2022 Get your children busy experimenting these term holidays by enrolling into our term holiday programme. We will be real scientists and measure rainfall, record & analyse clouds, test water samples and much more!! With all scientific equipment provided, fun + learning is guaranteed!! There are 2 sessions remaining: Saturday 25 September and Thursday 1 October. Click through to register below at : https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/118881532865

17.01.2022 This session from Trust for Nature sounds full of interest- John Paul Memorial Lecture - Innovation in Land Conservation Exploring new ways of understanding and managing the natural environment: ... * how technology can help with managing threatened species. * innovative methods to control feral animals, * how technology can help with managing threatened species * new ways of looking at fire and people in our landscapes. Zoom link below. See more

15.01.2022 Coming up - Kids for nature - 1 October. Explore Trust for Nature's youtube channel for other excellent webinars.

15.01.2022 Consultation is open on the proposed Container Deposit Scheme for Victoria - open until 30 November.

15.01.2022 Great news! The Friends and MCMC have been working on getting the swamps in the north of the catchment protected as housing development grows apace in the region. The October 2020 Planning Panel Panel Report for the Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) has recognised the importance of Hanna Swamp. Hanna Swamp straddles two large areas proposed for urban development (PSPs). It is part of the Strathaird/Taylors Creek system, a north-west tributary of Merri Creek ...near Wallan. Although the future of Hanna Swamp as a restored wetland is not secured, support from the Panel is a helpful step forward to realising this vision. This reasoning is explored in more detail in a recent Nature Glenelg Trust blog: http://natureglenelg.org.au/hanna-swamp-has-become-a-fasci/ A crucial factor in gaining the Panel's support for Hanna Swamp was a presentation made by Mark Bachmann of the Nature Glenelg Trust on behalf of Friends of Merri Creek. The Friends also successfully argued that biodiversity and regional park planning should be acknowledged in the PSP. Planning panel report: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/schemes-/browse-amendments

14.01.2022 Friends of Steele Creek reporting turbidity in the creek - harming water quality for fish, frogs and other aquatic creatures. More must be done to protect our waterways from this type of pollution, with infrastructure in place to contain or filter any runoff.

12.01.2022 First Friends of Dandenong Creek are campaigning to save Lake Knox land and wetlands from destruction in a Development Victoria proposal. There is an ecologists report attached reviewing the ecological values of this rich and biodiverse site. "We are committed to the protection of Lake Knox, and have demonstrated leadership in having an independent investigation conducted, from which report it makes abundantly clear that Lake Knox should be able to be kept and enhanced. In... light of the findings within Professor Boon’s report, we are anticipating that Melbourne Water will take the results seriously and explore all possible avenues to retain Lake Knox and work with the Knox community to present a combined case to Development Victoria. We are looking for strong leadership and support from Melbourne Water around the preservation of Lake Knox. There is a strong feeling at the moment that the communities involvement in this project has been overlooked." See more

08.01.2022 Great work Friends of Edwardes Lake - back on the litter trail. Sadly it is necessary, but this collecting also helps advocate for measures to stop the flow at source.

08.01.2022 Certainly a Merri Creek favourite and runner up in the Birds in Backyards 2020 count - here are some interesting facts, plus excellent pictures. https://theconversation.com/hard-to-spot-but-worth-looking-

06.01.2022 Read on for news of the Sacred Kingfisher’s return to Merri Creek. Thank you to Ceres for these words and @gabriellepamela50 for her perfect picture! Welcome back to the Sacred Kingfisher.

06.01.2022 The giant Eastern Barred Bandicoot created by Friends of Iramoo has flowered beautifully this season. Benefitting too from the work of the Friends are the Striped Legless Lizard and threatened grassland plants.

06.01.2022 What an amazing project - a feather map - made from thousands of moulted waterbird feathers, gathered by citizen scientists. Each feather is like a memory chip of where that bird has been, so comparing feathers from diverse parts of Australia identifies differences and creates a map to understand more about the ecosystems....Understanding how these birds use wetlands and where they travel is crucial to the conservation of the environments where they nest, feed and roost.

06.01.2022 Tune in this Wednesday to meet Andrew Kelly, Yarra Riverkeeper and find out about the work the Association does for the river.

05.01.2022 What a lovely afternoon! Dights Falls, Abbotsford.

05.01.2022 Join in this webinar to hear some children’s experiences and observations of birds along Merri Creek. Merri Bird Survey regulars will be on hand too. This Saturday 14 November, 11-12pm, register below. https://www.mcmc.org.au//995-living-with-local-birds-child

05.01.2022 Tune in to hear about some wonderful community work done at locations around Melbourne to protect and restore the environment. Tuesday 17 November - 7pm - click through to register.

04.01.2022 A virtual excursion for now, plan a trip for later - the UNESCO World Heritage Budj Bim landscape with a peak at how Traditional Owners used the lava flows of the Budj Bim area to trap and harvest eels and live in Victoria's South-West. This event will be led by Budj Bim Tours who will explain how Traditional Owners used the waterways to create one of the oldest forms of aquaculture from the comfort of home! Another in this wonderful series by Glenelg Hopkins CMA Tuesday 29t...h - 11-11.30 Register below. See more

04.01.2022 Here’s some wonderful ID shots of wallaby grass, ready for seed gathering.

03.01.2022 Here are some activities for children from the RBG - for some empty spots in whats left of school holidays, or quiet moments afterwards.

03.01.2022 Coming up! The Backyard Bird Count - this annual exercise helps keep track of species populations and variety. Just 20 minutes - more details below on how to participate.

02.01.2022 For kids! An online nature event Thursday 1 October, 11 am. Click through to register.

02.01.2022 Pinaroo's wetland story is an inspiration. Town stormwater, plus lots of community contribution has created a wetland haven in this Mallee town.