Support wanted for grassland reserve

FOR nearly six months, the natural grasslands of Meredith’s Police Paddocks reserve have been left without an assigned maintenance body.

When the previous delegated group Ballarat Environment Network walked away from the site late in 2021, ownership reverted to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, but some residents have said the branch isn’t doing enough.

The Meredith Police Paddocks Support Group previously worked with BEN to manage the space, but with a team of about 18 volunteers, member Jim Elvey said the group is unequipped to maintain its 20 hectares on their own.

“We do what we can right now but it’s beyond our volunteer group. We don’t have any resources or any financial income or anything like that,” he said.

“We’ve been working with DWELP, local member Michaela Settle, and the mayor and CEO of Golden Plains Shire trying to get someone to assume responsibility for undertaking weed control, and our efforts have not borne fruit.

“It’s very sad, because it’s a place of some substance and it’s got merit in its recreational value, educational value and environmental value.”

BEN had previously managed the site since 2007, and approached Golden Plains Shire in late 2019 to offer control of the land to them, which was later refused after consideration.

Mr Elvey said the site is overwhelmed with gorse and blackberry and that a larger, allocated body would be required to perform ongoing work at the site.

The support group receives legal coverage and consent from DELWP to arrange volunteer activities at the site and perform smaller maintenance tasks like tree planting, lawnmowing, and weeding.

DELWP maintains the Meredith Police Paddocks by performing routine slashing duties and fire prevention work, and Grampians Region Acting Program Manager, Land and Built Environment, Matthew Lee, said they are still looking to allocate a maintaining body.

“DELWP has looked to appoint a new committee of management for the Meredith Police Paddocks and we welcome any expressions of interest from groups who may be interested in this role,” he said.

“We understand this is an important community site in Meredith and we continue to work closely with the Meredith Police Paddocks Support Group to explore ways that DELWP can support their requests for ongoing improvements to the reserve.”