Project Aims
We aim to restore 12,000m2 of neglected habitat alongside a section of Gardiners Creek in Gardiners Creek Reserve, Burwood. This project complements our recently completed Phase 1 project which is 100m upstream from this proposed project.
Our aim is to restore/re-create a corridor for indigenous flora and fauna along Gardiners Creek. We want to encourage species such as Rakali, Spotted Pardalotes, Tawny Frogmouths, Eastern Blue Tongued Lizards, endangered Gang-gang Cockatoos – as well as engage local communities in the importance of habitat restoration and providing corridors which connect habitat for biodiversity improvements. Inbreeding and lack of fertility are consequences of fauna and flora communities being isolated.
We will be planting over 14,000 indigenous plants to support and strengthen the corridor and the critically important overstory that already exists at the site. The Burwood area is particularly at risk given it is on the Suburban Rail Loop and the resultant station/transport hub will significantly increase housing density in the surrounding area.
Addressing Climate Change
We need to build resilience into the landscape, making it more able to withstand the many impacts of climate change. In particular, we want to help keep the temperatures in the surrounding areas lower – potentially saving lives by limiting the impact of the urban heat island effect. The landscape will also absorb more water from torrential rainfall events – leading to lesser runoff into our already stressed catchment.
Habitat for Fauna and Flora including Rare/Endangered Species
The revegetation (as per EVC) will include weed removal, protecting old trees (a number are old enough to have hollows) and introducing dense understory, as well as sedges and grasses, to attract and protect our indigenous flora and fauna.
The result will be a transformation of an important, but currently weed infested area, into valuable, needed habitat. This work will create connectivity with other important stepping stones along the Gardiners Creek corridor and provide refuges for our declining populations of small birds – which are so important in keeping our eucalypts healthy – and providing pleasure for the huge number of bird watchers attracted to the area.
All this in a reserve that is currently dominated by dogs, people and weeds.
Community Engagement and Education
The funding will deliver a series of events where the community will be introduced to the world of biodiversity and will learn about the multiple benefits of their contributions to their environment. We will also introduce the community to other issues affecting our creeks and waterways such as pollution and litter. We want to enlighten the community to see their Reserve and the catchment from a different perspective. We will encourage the community to join a local volunteering group to care for the Reserve.
By embedding the community in the project from the very start and providing a running program of updates, planting and even weeding events, we intend to make the project of real interest to the community.
Community Health
A huge body of evidence supports that physical and mental health is benefited by living near, and taking time in, green biodiverse spaces. it is estimated that heat-related deaths in Australia will continue to increase dramatically. We have already noted above that the project will contribute to reductions in the heat island effect.
With increasing housing densities, these green areas are of critical importance and are ripe to be rejuvenated and become fully biodiverse. With green spaces declining, it is important to seize the opportunity now, before it is lost.
Watch this space for more updates!!!