Grants to strengthen community, rakali habitat

A PROJECT to restore habitat on the Woady Yaloak River for a special but shy local resident is among nine projects to share in Golden Plains Shire Community Strengthening Grants funding this round.

Smythesdale’s Friends of the Woady Landcare have received $7000 for their Saving the Wonderful Woady – Swamp Rat Flat project aimed at restoring habitat for rakali, the native water rat.

The group’s president, Bill MacNeill, said a population of rakali had been identified in a specific section of the river as part of a significant research project conducted last year.

With its distinctive white-tipped tail and partially webbed hind feet, the rakali is sometimes called Australia’s otter because of its semi-aquatic lifestyle and physical appearance.

“Last year we did a major piece of research work with Scarsdale ecologist Ray Draper and the Central Highlands Environmental Consultancy conducting a comprehensive assessment of remnant flora and fauna and we found a remnant population of rakali in this one specific area,” Mr MacNeill said. He said the Friends group now plans to use the research findings to inform its project aimed at restoring vital habitat for rakali with plantings including many under-story shrubs, and grasses planned for June to August next year.

“We’ve had a very successful planting program over the last three years and this will extend that into the area specifically with species to improve habitat for the native swamp rat,” Mr MacNeill said.

“It is fantastic to receive these grants because they will enable us to continue planting into this new area.”

Other initiatives to secure a grant as part of the $50,000 round are the Dolphins Basketball Club’s Community Integration and Basketball Development Project ($3774), Turtle Bend Committee’s Teesdale Christmas Movie Night ($7000), Ross Creek Landcare Group’s Woody Weed Control in Ross Creek ($7000), the Golden Pens-Write Side Up Golden Harvest project ($7000), Inverleigh Primary School’s Indigenous Mural Project ($6226), Teesdale Cricket Club’s Media Improvement project ($2000), Rokewood Community Hub’s Food Handling Course ($3000), and Skateboarding Victoria’s Promoting Golden Plains Skateable Spaces project ($7000).

“Council’s Community Strengthening Grants Program is an important initiative that has been running for almost 30 years and supports community projects and initiatives in every part of Golden Plains Shire,” mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said.