Originally formed in 2017, the Friends of Stockyard Creek Landcare group is again up and running with the support of South Gippsland Council and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to help restore some of the biodiversity to the town's Pearl Park and along the creek itself. One of the founding members, Tom Holman, pointed out that Platypus are often spotted in the creek, indeed at the most recent planting Linda, a newbie to Foster and the group, said she had spotted one not long ago.
The group, who meet on the first Sunday of the month at the wooden bridge at Pearl Park, have already planted over 400 plants along the waterway to strengthen the bank and to create an alternative option to spraying for weeds, and are also planting mid story shrubs to help attract more small birds.
Matt Bowler, Team Leader – Project Delivery Officer with the WGCMA said, “This is an exciting project, it is amazing to see volunteers putting their own energy into tackling invasive weeds and helping to restore a patch of vegetation along the creek. We are keen to support them by supplying advice, local indigenous plants and weed control.”
The group has established a strong workforce despite the recent variable weather and the disruption caused by COVID.
South Gippsland Council’s biodiversity coordinator, Chris Rankin, who supplied the plants, is also hugely supportive of the team. "Groups like this allow us to deliver projects that council would not normally have the funds to do. The role of these Landcare volunteers is really important, not just for the environment, but building community as well.”
South Gippsland Landcare Network Chair, Jillian Staton, said that encouraging collaboration between Landcare volunteers and the organisations responsible for public land has been a goal for the network and is a feature of the Memorandum of Understanding between SGLN and Council. "Having Council and WGCMA expertise and volunteer enthusiasm working together significantly increases our ability to get things done on the ground."
The group is really keen to secure new members to expand this important work, so if you are interested, feel free to come along to the next planting event on Sunday 6 July at 10am, email Emma at emmckay@hotmail.com for more info, or check us out on Facebook.
