Keeping Geelong green

AS the weather warms and flowers bloom, I’m once again reminded how lucky we are to live in Greater Geelong.

Ours is a unique municipality, stretching 1247 square kilometres across distinct suburban, coastal and country areas.

These landscapes are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna including many protected species such as the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot.

Our waterways are the region’s lifeblood, encompassing the Barwon and Moorabool River systems, lakes, creeks, 133 kilometres of coastline and 11,630 hectares of wetlands.

In fact, Greater Geelong is home to significant areas of habitat designated in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

These natural assets, which attract new residents and thousands of visitors to our region each year, are under pressure from challenges such as weeds, pest animals, climate change and waste.

The City manages more than 1400 hectares of protected nature reserves but we rely on support from nature volunteer groups to help with this complex work.

These volunteers are a passionate and knowledgeable bunch who are highly active across the whole region each and every day.

Groups like Friends of Buckley Falls, Geelong Field Naturalists Club and Friends of Cowies Creek run planting days, weeding/cleanup events, nature walks, wildlife surveys and educational opportunities.

In doing so, they are driving positive change by creating much-needed habitat for wildlife and providing a green haven for future generations.

These groups are always on the lookout for new members, so if you’ve been wanting to get into volunteering, please consider this pathway.

You don’t need experience or extensive knowledge about the environment to take part as the group will be there to guide you.

They welcome people from all walks of life including families and retirees.

Volunteering out in nature tends to create a real sense of community spirit and ownership of our surroundings.

Just a few months ago, we had a wonderful turnout at Lara’s Lavender Drive Reserve for our National Tree Day community event where almost 3000 trees were planted.

It was great to see residents across the generations excited to make a difference, while a planting day with Geelong Cats players, staff and members saw more than 1000 native shrubs, grasses and trees along the Moorabool River.

Their efforts form part of a long-term project to rehabilitate understorey plant species that provide food and shelter for native wildlife, improve water quality and drainage, and reduce bank erosion.

Participants at these recent events will be able to go back and see the difference they’ve made for years to come.

Whether you join an existing group or decide to start your own, there are many benefits to being a nature volunteer.

You’ll meet like-minded people, learn new skills and most of all, enjoy being outdoors and active in nature.

To find out more, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/naturevolunteers

Troy Edwards

Acting chief executive officer,

City of Greater Geelong