SCEG and Men's Shed think outside the box

SCEG and Men’s Shed think outside the box

L-R: Torquay Men's Shed members Ray Busby, Brian Burch, and SCEG founder Graeme Stockton with two of the bird boxes that will be installed alongside Merrijig Creek west of Anglesea Road. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

A COLLABORATION between two Torquay community groups will benefit local wildlife along Merrijig Creek’s upper catchment area west of Anglesea Road.

Surf Coast Energy Group (SCEG) has partnered with Torquay Men’s Shed to provide long-term temporary habitats to local birds in the Surf Coast region that rely exclusively on bird hollows.

The project involves assembling and attaching 20 bird boxes to 5.5-metre high wooden posts strategically placed along Merrijig Creek, 10 of which will be constructed by the local Men’s Shed.

It will also complement a large revegetation project conducted by SCEG to restore the creek’s swampy riparian woodland and reconnect it to isolated bushland.

SCEG founder Graeme Stockton said the project came out of a literature search on wildlife that rely exclusively on hollows.

He said research by David Lindenmayer of Australian National University found more than 300 native species of birds relied on hollows.

One of the 20 bird boxes has been installed. The rest will be installed before the end of the year.

Local birds that will potentially use the hollows include eastern rosellas, crimson rosellas, blue-wing parrots, treecreepers and grey shrikethrush.

SCEG will install 10 Habitech boxes, which are made of recyclable UV-stabilised polypropylene and have a lifespan of 50 years.

Torquay Men’s Shed will add an additional 10 wooden bird boxes that have an approximate 10-year life span.

“What we’re trying to do is fill in the gaps where hollow-reliant species don’t have proper homes,” Mr Stockton said. “Knowing that all these species rely on hollows, boxes like the ones we’re building will provide suitable habitats while trees and natural habitats are being grown around the posts along Merrijig Creek.”

Men’s Shed co-ordinator Brian Burch said the group has undertaken box projects for organisations such as Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, Torquay Early Learning Centre, and Jirrahlinga Wildlife Sanctuary in recent years.

“A project like this with SCEG is what the Men’s Shed is all about, not only for men’s health, but building stuff together for the community,” Mr Burch said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff on the go at the moment, we’re a not-for-profit organisation and it’s what we love to do in our spare time to add to this region that we all live in.”

All 20 man-made hollows will be installed before the end of the year.