The Yarra Ranges Council has received new funding to help our native flora reclaim the landscape from invasive weeds.
The council received $388,000 in grants for the Peri-Urban Weed Management Partnerships program with $1.7 million in total being delivered across seven local councils in Victoria.
The grants were announced by the Minister for Environment on July 28, with additional partners Parks Victoria and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation also receiving funding.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said the new funding would help eliminate weeds posing a threat towards the state’s special wildlife.
“Weed management in Yarra Ranges and across greater Melbourne is critical to protect and restore habitat for native plant and animals, including the endangered southern greater glider and broad-toothed rat near Healesville Sanctuary.
“Through manual works, spraying and community initiatives, our program will help to restore those habitats, while making sure these spaces can also continue to be enjoyed by the community.
“This program is supporting land managers, communities and Traditional Owners to work together to manage weeds in peri-urban Melbourne,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.
The are two projects to take place in the Yarra Ranges area.
The first is to restore the habitat at Barak Creek, adjoining Healesville Sanctuary, led by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
It will restore the habitat for the critically endangered broad-toothed rat, in partnership with Zoos Victoria.
The second project is led by the council and is called the Protecting the Dandenong Ranges project.
It will target weed species that are emerging following the 2021 storms, reduce tree canopy cover and create significant ground disturbance.
Weeds of greatest concern include Sweet Pittosporum, Sycamore Maple, Holly, English Ivy, and Blackberry.
The Yarra Ranges Council is actually where the idea of peri-urban began and weed management was kickstarted by the Community Weed Alliance of the Dandenongs (CWAD).
A Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson said the group brought passionate people together to advocate for a better kept shire.
“CWAD brought together the many passionate environmental volunteer groups throughout the Dandenongs to seek funding for effective, collaborative weed control on public and private land.
“Our geology and vegetation, higher rainfall and nutrient rich soils, make the establishment and spread of exotic plants a significant threat to the threatened indigenous plants and animals in an already modified landscape through lifestyle and urban development.
The group delivering the weed management program has representation from CWAD, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, Knox City Council and Yarra Ranges Council.
The council spokesperson said there were many ways for people to get involved in managing invasive species.
“Residents can help by being mindful of garden plants that may become invasive if left unmanaged. Remove high threat species and where possible and replace them with indigenous plants, increasing biodiversity values.
“They can also get involved in their local Friends of or Landcare Group, and become involved in Councils Gardens for Wildlife program.”
