A $200,000 Milestone
We are thrilled to share a massive win for our waterways!
On Thursday, 15 October, the Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Regional Collaboration officially secured $200,000 through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Urban Waterways Fund for a groundbreaking new habitat connectivity mapping and planning project.
The announcement was led by Matt Fregon MP (State Member for Ashwood), alongside our Graham Ross and Neil Sutton (Regional Collaboration Lead). It was attended by Mayors and Councillors from partner Councils — Monash, Whitehorse, and Boroondara — alongside representatives from over 16 community organisations and agencies.
What This Funding Means for Our Catchment
This project is about taking a whole-of-catchment approach to bring our landscape back together. By bringing the community and stakeholders together, we will heal, strengthen, and ensure the resilience of the catchment into the future.
The project will deliver:
- Focal Species List: Identifying the local wildlife that need our help most to move safely through the KooyongKoot corridor.
- Habitat Mapping: Finding and prioritising the best sites for future environmental investment.
- On-the-Ground Action: Rolling out site preparation and trial plantings at several key locations right away.
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Guided by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC), members of the Regional Collaboration will co-design the final Action Plan. By weaving together cultural knowledge, community passion, and scientific mapping, we are ensuring the catchment thrives for generations to come.
The Regional Collaboration notes that special thanks go to our Graham Ross (KKA), supportive colleagues at Melbourne Water and DEECA, and Neil Sutton, the Regional Collaboration Lead (hosted by Melbourne Water). They also extend their gratitude to every single partner and volunteer who participate in the collaboration. They say it’s a firsthand example of what happens when a community unites for the environment.
Stay tuned for updates as these new ecological pathways are mapped out!