Planting day to create wildlife habitat

THE community is invited to help plant more than 4000 native plants along Korjamnunnip Creek as part of Grow West’s annual planting day.

Scheduled for Sunday 20 July, the aim of the event is to create a nature corridor to encourage local fauna such as platypus and wedge tailed eagle.

There will be two planting zones to improve links between the creek and nearby habitat.

Volunteers will plant indigenous seedlings grown by the Moorabool Landcare Network Nursery with assistance from Wurundjeri Narrap Unit.

“Replanting Korjamnunnip Creek will be a big help to the local platypus population by slowing the stream during extreme weather,” Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance president Dr Jodie Valpied said.

“Slowing the flow of water into the creek helps protect the burrows where platypuses are raising their young.”

The area of land is held by local farmers Sarah and Marty, who have been working with neighbouring landholders to create a green belt.

Korjamnunnip Creek is a tributary of the Pykes Creek Reservoir, which connects to the Werribee River.

It has many rural headwater streams and creeks on private property.

Attendees are asked to register for the planting day by Sunday 13 July.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea is included.

To register, visit the Grow West website.

The event is a partnership between Melbourne Water, Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee, Moorabool Landcare Network, Fifteen Trees, Bacchus Marsh Lions Club, Victorian Mobile Landcare Group, the Victorian National Parks Association, and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Narrap Unit.