By Callum Ludwig
The Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area in Yellingbo is set to improve its security and effectiveness with an upgrade set to help the native habitat thrive.
The last remaining wild population of the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and the only lowland population of the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum reside within and rely upon the Conservation Area to prevent their extinction.
Parks Victoria Area Chief Ranger Jack Dinkgreve said Parks Victoria is thrilled to be leading an important habitat restoration project at Woori Yallock Creek within the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area on Wurundjeri Country.
“With support from the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum, and funding from the Victorian Government and Melbourne Water, a 1.8km herbivore exclusion fence has been erected to establish important feeding and breeding habitat for critically endangered populations of the Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater’s Possum,” he said.
“Covering an area of 6.3 hectares, the new fence has been built using reclaimed materials from existing plots in the area. It will keep deer and local herbivores such as wallabies and wombats from devouring more than 125,000 seedlings, to be planted in the coming months as part of a collaborative, multi-year habitat restoration project.”
The development comes as part of the 10-year plan for the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area drafted by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), in collaboration with Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water.
Co-President of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Virginia Wallace said the support and every little bit helps in protecting and improving the outlook for the faunal emblems.
“We really need to give the seedlings that we grow at our nursery the best opportunity possible to create that understory and habitat, particularly because deer are ruthless and they just munch everything,” she said.
“Areas like these are so important because we’re not here just for one species, we’re here for the whole of the habitat. We’ve recently become aware there are some endangered reptiles in the area and know of other endangered species, such as owls so whatever we do to look after the habitat for one species has enormous positive benefits for others.”
Regular planting days and survey events are held at the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area and anyone interested in getting involved can find out more at www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au or on the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc Facebook page.
