The Liveable Communities Liveable Waterways (LCLW) grant program is open for applications to new participants throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region, which includes the Werribee, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Dandenong, and Westernport catchments.
Unlike a great many of our urban waterways, rural headwater streams and smaller creeks are often on private property. This means that landholders play a crucial role in protecting the health of our waterways.
By replanting vegetation, controlling weeds, and putting in fencing to exclude livestock, our streamside landholders make an invaluable contribution to preserving the ecological balance of our waterways.
Landholders Maree and Kevin have received funding from Melbourne Water since 2016 for activities to promote waterway health such as revegetation and weed control.
The previous owners had cattle running on a spring with around 200 metres of steam frontage at Menzies Creek. Using the funds from their LCLW grant, they have installed 500 plants along the steep landscape, reducing sedimentation and promoting biodiversity along the stream.
After much grazing pressure from deer and wallabies, Maree and Kevin wanted to try some larger guards to protect the Mountain Ash eucalypts they are reintroducing to the landscape. They were also able to use the LCLW grant to support this work.
Works to protect headwater streams and small rural creeks support the ecology of the waterway’s by protecting the waterbugs that feed the smaller fish and support bigger fish further downstream. Works to restore native vegetation also supports habitat and food for native animals and improves the stability of waterway embankments.
“We are especially looking for participants at Upper Deep Creek Catchment and Lancefield, Romsey, and Newham townships,” said Trent Griffiths, Melbourne Water Manager, Service Partnerships.
“These are areas where there are a lot of streams and creeks on private property that are really important to the health of the Maribyrnong catchment overall.”
LCLW is a vital part of how communities can contribute to the Healthy Waterways Strategy, a 50-year vision for the health of waterways in the five major catchments across Port Phillip and Westernport region. By supporting this program, you are contributing to a brighter, healthier future for our waterways today, tomorrow, and for the generations to come.
Learn more about LCLW and apply: Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program | Melbourne Water
