May – July 2019The Friends of Merri Creek NewsletterMerri Growler

Inside Merri Musings 2 3 Birds along the Merri in Late Summer

Second BirdWatch Survey for 2019 3 4 Merri Creek development emergency

Election promises • Wednesday Volunteers 5 6 A close encounter of the thorny kind

Friends of Edgars Creek Focus • Dick’s Witticisms 7 8 Events calendar

Restoration of Wallan Wallan wetlandFoMC Life Member Bruce McGregor tells us about this exciting opportunity to recreate a major wetland on Merri Creek.

“Hernes Swamp is a little known, hidden gem, awaiting the opportunity to be brought ‘back to life’ as a community asset, as part of the Wallan Regional Park.” So begins a visionary discussion paper by the Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT), about the history of the wetland, its natural values and how restoration could be achieved in five stages.

Before being drained for grazing in the 1940s, Hernes Swamp, on the south-eastern edge of Wallan, carried a vast seasonal body of water, covering over 600 ha, which supported thousands of waterfowl, ibis and swans. Drainage works included straightening, deepening and channelisation of Taylors and Merri Creeks where they previously meandered through the bed of the swamp.

In recent years, many rare and threatened wetland plants have been found along the former wetland margins, especially in wetter years. The Seasonal Herbaceous Wetland community remnants are protected under the Federal EPBC Act.

FoMC wrote to Mitchell Shire Council in 2006 urging them to investigate the restoration of the wetland and

habitat, and to implement planning controls to protect the area. However residential development (built on fill to raise it above floodwaters) is still proceeding across the northern and western sections of the wetland.

The 2015 proposal by FoMC, Wallan Environment Group and Merri Creek Management Committee for a Greater Wallan-Merri State/Regional Park included restoration of a wetland of national significance on part of the former swamp – which we’re unilaterally renaming as Wallan Wallan Wetland.

Mark Bachmann of the Nature Glenelg Trust spoke at our 2018 AGM about how the swamp could be restored. He has since prepared a very timely discussion paper in order to focus planning by various government agencies, local councils and developers. You can read it on the FoMC website. We look forward to continuing involvement by the Friends in this exciting project.

Hernes Swamp, or “Wallan Wallan Wetland” in flood, with Mt Fraser in the background. September 2016.

Merri Growler

2 Merri Growler May – July 2019

Merri Musings

Successful grants: We received $21,997 from Melbourne Water for the project Saving Secret Saline Seeps at Galada Tamboore, which aims to map, protect and enhance rare vegetation communities growing in naturally-occurring saline seeps at Galada Tamboore, and restore adjoining endangered escarpment shrubland vegetation. Plus we received $1,100 towards newsletter and admin costs.

Melbourne Water also funded our sub-group, Friends of Edgars Creek, $19,728 to continue their excellent planting program, with an additional $1,100 for administration.

We also received $17,160 from the Port Phillip Bay Fund Community Large Grants for the second year of our project, Rapid response to litter clean-ups after high rainfall events, to coordinate clean-ups along Merri Creek.

Interesting donation: Ban Plastic Fish (www.instagram.com/banplasticfish/), the group lobbying to ban the little plastic fish that hold soy sauce, ran a competition on Instagram to guess the number of fish in a container and the winner could nominate where the $100 prize money should go. The winner, Scott Hamilton from Northcote, nominated FoMC for the prize. Thanks to Scott for thinking of us, and the Ban Plastic Fish group for making the donation possible.

Other generous donors: This interesting donation made us aware that we received a number of generous donations recently that have gone unacknowledged. So now we give our thanks to the following people who also donated over $100: Carol Andrews, Geoff Richards, Ann Sanson, Sandra Sdraulig and Phil Sinclair (together), Dionne Wright, Pamela (surname withheld), a long term local resident, and another person who wants to remain anonymous.

Brunswick Terminal Station land is now public: Three small parcels of land that were formerly part of the Brunswick Terminal Station (BTS) at 46 King Street, Brunswick East, have been subdivided and transferred to the ownership of Moreland City Council for open space. The land comprises an area of approximately 897 square metres and contributes to the Merri Creek environs and

shared path network. The owners of the BTS have done a pretty good job of revegetating around the site as part of building the new terminal station, and some of this land was formerly infested with prickly pear and other weeds. Now it will be protected as open space and managed by Moreland Council.

Bad plantings at Sumner Park: FoMC has complained to Moreland Council about some ill-advised plantings at Sumner Park Brunswick East (adjacent to the Brunswick Terminal Station). Some of the species are non-indigenous, which is against the guidelines for planting along Merri Creek; and there is also some concern that the indigenous plants may not be of local provenance.

Some of the trees will overshadow and suppress existing native vegetation along the creek and their roots are likely to deform and destroy the concreted shared trail, creating hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. The trees will develop large limbs overhanging the path, which may drop in drier years, and would likely present a problem regarding sightlines, where again, the plantings contravene the guidelines.

Some trees are planted too close to the pedestrian bridge, the path, or each other, while others are planted inappropriately – for instance Red Box doesn’t grow at the top of creek banks and Blackwood is planted within the root zone of a 35 year old Red Gum. There were even Norfolk Island Pines planted on the levee bank at southern end of Sumner Park.

Moreland Council sent us an unsatisfactory response, except for a promise to remove and transplant the Norfolk Island Pines in winter, so we are following them up.

This unfortunate episode highlights the importance of specialist advice on plant selection and siting for any planting project along the Merri corridor.

FoMC and the Blue-banded Bee in podcast: A new episode of the Look at me podcast, produced by The Guardian Australia, has just been released and it’s all about the Blue-banded Bee! Friends of Merri Creek is mentioned and there’s an interesting interview with well-known local singer, Jen Cloher, who was instrumental in our 2016 Help the Blue-banded Bee crowd funding campaign. You can listen in on The Guardian Australia’s website at www.theguardian.com/environment/series/look-at-me

Look at me is a six-part series which takes an in-depth look at six of Australia’s least known but most fascinating native animals. Episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays.

May – July 2019 Merri Growler 3

Second Merri BirdWatch survey for 2019Bird surveys will be held from 8.45–10.30 am at nine sites along Merri Creek as listed below. Beginners

welcome, BYO binoculars if possible, but no dogs please, as they reduce the number and variety of birds to be seen. The contact for all Birdwatch events is Ann McGregor 0429 386 102.

Free leaflets on Merri Birds (normally $2) are available for all participantsSurveys at the following seven sites are on 5 May

Egan Reserve – Harding Street – Strettle Reserve – Normanby Avenue: Meet at the bluestone steps at the end of The Grove, East Coburg (Melway 30 A3).

Edwardes Lake: Meet at playground adjacent to Griffiths Street, Reservoir (Melway 18 E5).

CERES – Moreland Road: Meet at the seats on the Merri Path at the rear of CERES, East Brunswick (Melway 30 B7).

Merri Park and Phillips Reserve: Meet at the end of Victoria Street, East Brunswick, at the BBQ shelter (Melway 30 B8).

Hall Reserve – Yarra Bend Park: Meet at the Rotunda, Hall Reserve, Clifton Hill (Melway 2D D1).

Galada Tamboore: Meet at the end of Hatty Court, Campbellfield (Melway 7 K6).

Galgi Ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands): Meet at O’Herns Road gate off Hume Highway, Somerton (Melway 180 E6). Note this survey may not be completed until around 12 noon. Please contact the group leader to register beforehand, and

receive important information about Galgi Ngarrk and any last-minute changes: Bridget Gardner: 0417 519 251.

Surveys at the following two sites are on 12 MayCoburg Lake Reserve: Meet near the car park, Lake Grove, Coburg (Melway 17 H10).

Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd Grasslands), Fawkner: Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melway 18 A2)

Birds along the Merri in Late SummerAnn McGregor BirdWatch Coordinator

Fifty-nine people joined in our bird surveys at nine sites in February and a total of 75 species was recorded across all surveys.

The handsome olive-green Eastern Whipbird is a very unusual species to record along the Merri, but in mid-January a lone male decided that the dense shrubby undergrowth in Merri Park, Northcote is suitable habitat. His loud whip-crack call could still be heard during the East Brunswick-Northcote survey on 17 February (and he was still there on 10 March). Who would have thought that the bitumen, buildings and stored materials of the Board of Works’ Winifred Street depot in 1986 could be revegetated so successfully for a bird that normally lives in the wet forests of the eastern ranges?

Galgi Ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands) was the top-scorer in terms of species diversity, with 38 species. Highlights were a Black-shouldered Kite sitting quietly in a tree, a Nankeen Night Heron, and at least 16 Zebra Finches including a mating pair less than 25m from the surveyors.

It is very pleasing that tiny Spotted Pardalotes were recorded in six surveys, indicating that planted eucalypts are providing enough food for these canopy-gleaners to settle in. They were at the same sites as aggressive Noisy Miners, so it seems they are able to escape, or tolerate, harassment from the Miners. In Clifton Hill, Ruth and Des Shiel commented on the near absence of Noisy Miners (5 sighted), while Spotted Pardalotes and Brown Thornbills were in areas where they had not previously seen them. The Striated Pardalote was also recorded at Edwardes Lake.

Two Brown Goshawks were seen repeatedly by the East Brunswick-Northcote birders, from the MCCC pedestrian bridge, and in and around the

Merri Park wetland. They were very vocal and active, and it almost seemed as if they were following the birders around. However, few other birds were noted in the area at the time, apart from some Pied Currawongs.

Two silhouettes were observed very high above Edwardes Lake. They are thought to have been Fork-tailed Swifts, but unconfirmed as they soon went out of view. Other aerialists in our surveys were: Welcome Swallows at 5 sites; 8 Fairy Martins at Bababi Marning; and several Tree Martins in a mixed flock with swallows about Brunswick Velodrome.

Difficult to see when they are high in the canopy of a gum tree, the Spotted Pardalote is an attractive small bird that gleans insects in

the maturing eucalypts along the Merri. Photo: Peter Mollison

4 Merri Growler May – July 2019

Merri Creek development emergencyFoMC is calling on the Minister for Planning to pause the roll out of new suburbs in the upper Merri until the potential for severe soil erosion is brought under control.

Massive new suburbs are planned for the upper Merri catchment, all the way from Craigieburn to Wallan. Will these suburbs support pleasant open space along healthy waterways? Or will we be confronted by dry landscapes with eroded gullies, saline soils that can’t support vegetation, and creeks piped underground?

Urban development in the upper Merri catchment has all the ingredients of a looming disaster: poor, highly erodible, dispersive sub-soils in many areas; saline groundwater in others; in places both; inadequate erosion controls on construction and building activities; and government regulators unable or unwilling to enforce controls.

When development activity exposes the poor soils and rain follows, the soils fall apart. The particles are so fine and dispersible that conventional erosion controls, like silt fences, don’t work. The fine sediments won’t settle out in sediment basins or wetlands either. They are destined to be washed downstream to blight the waterways of the Merri catchment.

It is not just an aesthetic issue. Large amounts of fine sediment entering a waterway reduces light availability, smothers aquatic vegetation, clogs the gills of sensitive animal species, and leads to a loss of ecological values.

The structurally unstable soils mean that contemporary approaches to creating constructing waterways are doomed to failure. Constructed waterways are often needed in new development areas to prevent flooding from the huge increase in stormwater run-off from hard surfaces and are designed to also support aquatic ecology and community amenity.

We’ve already seen such a failure occur over the last 18 months. A constructed waterway in Mickleham, south of Donnybrook Rd, has eroded down to bedrock, its banks are collapsing, and vegetation is failing to establish. Is the same thing going to happen across other development areas? In addition, in some areas, the sub-soils and local groundwater are saline. Seepage of brackish water near constructed waterways near Beveridge is already creating saline areas that can’t support vegetation.

These problems threaten the entire Merri Creek and could go on for decades. And don’t forget climate change. That could make matters even worse with increased frequency of intense summer storms ripping through the catchment’s fragile exposed soils.

Why has it come to this? State agencies involved in growth planning don’t seem to have known about the unsuitable soils, a dismaying omission bordering on negligence. If a proper assessment had been done in the early stages, it would have concluded that some of these areas should never have been earmarked for development.

That’s why we want to pause the roll out of new suburbs in the upper Merri and take stock. Some very hard thinking is needed by all levels of government with the support and advice of the very best technical specialists.

Major changes are critical to saving the Merri. We call for the following actions to be taken, to specifically respond to the problematic soils:• A rigorous technical analysis of the soils of the upper

Merri catchment to identify the scope of the problem and areas at risk.

• A review of Melbourne Water’s Developer Services Schemes (drainage schemes) across the upper Merri.

• Reviews of the EPA’s Erosion Guidance documents to provide better guidance.

• Rectification of critical flaws in the planning scheme that hinder councils’ abilities to require and to enforce erosion controls in the preparation of, and during, the subdivision phase.

• Proper resourcing for councils and EPA to enable them to enforce erosion controls at the building construction stage.

• A review of standard Water Sensitive Urban Design/Integrated Water Management approaches as these don’t suit the soils.

The community needs to have a high level of confidence that the severe erosion problems and the threats to Merri waterways can be brought under control and that Melbourne’s new northern suburbs will support healthy waterways with high amenity value.

We thank Luisa Macmillan, Manager at Merri Creek Management Committee, for the list of suggestions.

After very heavy rain, muddy water from building sites rushes from an eroding sediment basin into a constructed waterway

south of Donnybrook Rd, near St Georges Rd, Mickleham.

STOP PRESSMelbourne Water responds to failing constructed waterway

Melbourne Water is rectifying the failed waterway in Mickleham. Melbourne Water has also acknowledged

the widespread occurrence of problematic soils in the Kalkallo Creek sub-catchment. It will require

future developers to address these soils earlier in the planning/design process to avoid similar problems occurring. For full details see: www.mcmc.org.au

May – July 2019 Merri Growler 5

Election promise to restore urban riversFoMC Vice-President Ann McGregor gives an update on the promised funding from Federal and State Governments.

As we reported a year ago in the Merri Growler, the Federal Shadow Minister for Environment, Tony Burke, announced an ALP election promise of an urban waterways program, including $1 million for Merri and Darebin Creeks. More information came in January this year, when a media release from Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten MP, Tony Burke MP, and Anthony Albanese MP, committed a Shorten Labor Government to a $200 million investment in “restoring urban rivers to their natural beauty.”

Local environmental action groups will be able to apply for small grants under the program. It will also fund projects such as: building wetlands to clean stormwater; citizen science and education programs, including bush kindergartens; employment of Indigenous rangers; and removing concrete lining on river banks.

At the State level, the ALP made a pre-election promise last November that a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will build a massive new park in the growing northern suburbs – the new Upper Merri Parklands, stretching all the way from Broadmeadows to Wallan. A media release from Premier Daniel Andrews, put a figure of 2,778 hectares on these new parklands. Another component of Victorian Labor’s $150 million Suburban Parks Package is a feasibility study for a Wallan Regional Park. We assume this refers to the northern end of our Greater Wallan-Merri State/Regional Park proposal, with restoration of Hernes Swamp as a centrepiece.

FoMC will work with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and other organisations to realise our vision for a “living landscape for a liveable Melbourne”- with a focus on securing a green spine that conserves nature and links inner Melbourne to Wallan along the Merri Creek valley.

Wednesday Volunteers begin their second yearAnne Frost, Wednesday Volunteer Group Convener

The Merri Creek Wednesday Volunteer Group has begun its second year with enthusiasm. In response to members’ desire to improve their weed identification and removal skills, a weed workshop run by Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) staff was held on 27 February. Fifteen people participated, walking along the creek near CERES and settling in the shade to sketch and discuss some common weeds.

The Wednesday volunteers work with MCMC staff to help care for the Creek on the fourth Wednesday of the month, February to November. We go wherever our contribution is needed. Last year’s efforts included: removing South African Orchids from the Ngarri-Djarrang Grassland in Reservoir; weeding at the Merri Park Wetland in Northcote; removal of brassica in Fawkner; and a tour of seed production areas for the Secret Seven Seeds project. Our members include retired people, part-time workers, tertiary students and parents with children. People come when they can, with around ten turning up each month.

We’re learning as we go – about the diversity of sites along the creek, the variety of weeds we need to remove and the flora we are seeking to protect. This is the advantage of working alongside expert MCMC staff. In 2019 we will work in a variety of new sites with more associated learning opportunities, including on bird life and water health.

If you want to care for and learn more about the Merri Creek during the week, in good company, with optional attendance for busy people, this is the group for you. Monthly email reminders are sent to members.

Details of monthly events are available on the FoMC calendar.

Register your interest with FoMC by emailing friendsofmerricreek@gmail.com and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

Merri Creek at Merriang – used

as an image in our Greater Wallan Merri

State/Regional Park proposal.

6 Merri Growler May – July 2019

A close encounter of the thorny kindBarbara Carseldine reports on her experience of Woody Weed Whacking at Galada Tamboore

I must be the luckiest person in the world, to be able to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday morning ‘weed whacking’ with the Merri Creek mob. As a recent arrival from South East Queensland I don’t know many locals, and that includes the local invasive species.

What could possibly be better than being paired off to whack a weed? One person clips back the Briar Rose and the other quickly daubs herbicide on the cut, hopefully within 30 seconds, before the plant’s vascular system does its thing (forgive my lack of actual scientific knowledge). Sounds easy, right? No, no, no.

Apparently, as with most things, there is an art to it. I am used to dealing with invasive species with a mattock and muscles, though in the past couple of years the muscles have become a bit weedier too. I realise I am a weed whacker virgin.

We all wear safety goggles and welders’ gloves so our eyes, hands and wrists are protected. Still I try to avoid the nasty thorns of the Briar Rose as my 74-year-old skin does not appreciate their ability to penetrate my designer label, paint spattered gardening/painting clothes – RM Williams long sleeve shirt and Kathmandu pants, both courtesy of Preston Salvos. Briar Rose, a nasty prickly invasive beastie in this part of the catchment, is enough to turn me off roses for life. I will need to acquire more heavy-duty clothing it seems.

Trimming the Briar Rose back – called “hedging it” – makes it so much easier to handle. Trouble is it takes me 1½ hours of prickly, blood-letting entanglement, to learn this. Do I mind? Not at all. Slow learners of the world unite.

We are clearing around a patch of a rare native species of yellow peas – I can’t remember the names of the other volunteers let alone the botanical name of the peas [Fireweed Groundsel, or Senecio linearifolius –Ed.] – which appeared a year or so ago after ‘a community minded citizen’ set fire to a dumped vehicle. This particular pea species has very hard seeds which need fire to germinate. In South East Queensland, where I have volunteered previously, I am familiar with hovea and hakea, both of which flourish after slow burn fires, so the appearance of this rare yellow pea makes sense.

Aren’t we lucky that the Merri Creek mob have identified them in the catchment, so now we can try to protect them and hopefully increase their numbers?

I just wish that everyone could have this experience of being out in the open, in the fresh air, with a great bunch of like-minded people of diverse ages and backgrounds, surely a cure for whatever ails you. As we cut and daub we chat about art galleries and I realise one of the volunteers is actually my neighbour. I have only been in my apartment for a few weeks so it’s great to get to meet her.

We all had a great sense of achievement seeing the cleared space after a couple of hours of enthusiastic teamwork. Walking back to the car, the icing on the cake is learning to identify salt bush, with its ripe red berries, a local species I can add to my growing list of local knowledge.

The “Woody Weed Whackers” behind the pile of Briar Rose prunings they removed at Galada Tamboore on 17 March 2019. Barbara is fifth from right.

May – July 2019 Merri Growler 7

Friends of Edgars Creek Focus

Sign on for events notices or to receive Merri e-NewsIf you would like to be notified about events along

Merri Creek or to receive Merri Creek Management

Committee’s newsletter, Merri e-News, sign up at:

http://www.mcmc.org.au/get-involved/subscribe

You can sign up to receive email notices for all events, for events

in a specific area, or for certain types of events. Please note

that such notices are only sent to people who have requested

them – so they do not automatically go to FoMC members.

David Pavone, President, Friends of Edgars Creek

Well here we go again! The 2019 planting season is underway and the Friends of Edgars Creek (FoEC) is investing time and energy (and Melbourne Water’s Community Grant funding) into another season of restoration and enhancement of our beloved Edgars Creek.

The FoEC AGM was held in February and I am pleased to be continuing in the role of President for another year. I’m not yet in the years of service realm of David Redfearn (who just stepped down after 15 years as FoMC President) or Ray Radford (Secretary of FoMC since time first began I think!?), though I believe I’m now up to ten-years in the role. Our Committee comprises Rob Urquhart who continues in the Secretary role, and we welcome Lisa Davis as our new Treasurer. Lisa has taken the reins from Stephen Northey, who has stepped down from the committee, having been involved since FoEC was created back in 2006.

We were successful in our latest (2018) application for a Melbourne Water Community Grant, which will fund projects in 2019-20. So, thankfully, we can confirm our full calendar of events for 2019 – see our website: http://foec.org.au/. If you would like regular updates each month, either send us your email address at edgarscreek@gmail.com or ‘friend’ us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/edgars.creek. Please keep an eye out as more events are likely to be added into the year including planting education activities.

See ya on the creek!

Dick’s WitticismsMore witty one-liners from FoMC

Life Member, Dick Harcourt:

Don’t worry about old age; it doesn’t last.

The only way to look younger is not to be born so soon

Befriend our Facebook page

Join over 4,000 others and ‘like’ our wonderful Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/

FriendsofMerriCreek then click on ‘Like’ to get automatic updates to group activities and news.

And we’re on Instagram tooSmartphone users with the Instagram app can

share photos with #merricreek #merricreektrail hashtags at Instagram @friendsofmerricreek

What ten years can do! David Pavone wishes that he looked this much better after ten years, instead of gaining wrinkles and losing more hair! The ‘before’ photo was taken in the year that David first took on the President’s role with FoEC; and he is rightfully proud of what FoEC has achieved since then. Not only in terms of the revegetation works, but also with the vibrant community group that is has become. Go FoEC!

J U L YSaturday 6: Friends of Merri Park Litter Clean-up – NorthcoteSame details as for Saturday 4 May.Sunday 7 : Litter Clean Up – CraigieburnCommemorating National NAIDOC Week 2–9 July. Malcolm Creek at 4 Willow Way Craigieburn, 10am–12noon. Melway 386 K6 or see Google map. Phone Paul 9489 5062.Sunday 7: Streamteam Water Quality Testing – Nth FitzroySame details as for Sunday 5 May.Sunday 14: Phillips Reserve Planting – Brunswick EastCommunity planting of native ground storey and shrubs by a beautiful and popular stretch of the Merri. 10am to 12pm. BBQ provided. Meet at the corner of Weigall St and Arthurton Road, Brunswick East. Melway 30 B8 or see Google map. Phone Melissa 0417 255 873.Wednesday 24: Wednesday volunteersSee our website calendar: friendsofmerricreek.org.au/events-news/

Sunday 28: Yarra City Council National Tree Day Planting & BBQ – FairfieldYarra City Council is celebrating National Tree Day by planting native wildflowers and herb species into the bushland areas of Fairfield Park , Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield, 10am–1pm. Melway map 30 J12 or see Google map. Free BBQ provided. Waterwatch will also be there with displays. Funded by Yarra City Council.Sunday 28: Moreland City Council National Tree Day Planting – FawknerBababi Djinanang, Fawkner, enter via Jukes Rd Fawkner, 10am–12.30pm. Help plant indigenous plants between the shared path and the grassland. Melway map 18 A2 or see Google map. Organised by Moreland City Council. Phone Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer on 8311 4386.

Friends of Merri Creek Inc. ASSOC. NO. A00246451

PO Box 93, Moreland, Vic 3058 Email: friendsofmerricreek@gmail.com Web: www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au

Check the FoMC website for any new events or changes to the above details.If no contact details given above, phone Ray or Monica at MCMC on 9380 8199.

Editor: Ray Radford • Assistant Editors: Amanda Lawrence, Danielle Harris Layout & Design: Dean Lombard

Members’ contributions are most welcome; please send to friendsofmerricreek@gmail.com by Friday 14 June 2019

M A YSaturday 4: Friends of Merri Park Litter Clean-up – Northcote10am–12noon. Help look after this wonderful site. Merri Park Northcote, Sumner Ave near Winifred St. Melway 30C8 or see Google map. Supported by MCMC. Phone Irena 0415 722 653.Sunday 5: Merri Bird Survey 2019 #2 – Various locations7 sites along the Merri, 8.45–10.30am. See page 3 for details.Sunday 5: Litter Clean Up – ReservoirDavidson St Reservoir, 10am–12noon. Melway 8 B12 or see Google map. Phone Paul 9489 5062.Sunday 5: Streamteam Water Quality Testing – Nth Fitzroy2–3.30pm. Upstream of St Georges Rd bridge, enter from Miller St, Nth Fitzroy. Melway 30 C10 or see Google map. Phone Trevor 0458 257 611.Saturday 11: Friends of Malcolm Creek Planting – CraigieburnOn Malcolm Creek near Beckett Way Craigieburn – see Google map, 10am–1pm. Help plant shrubs and grasses to provide habitat for small birds.Sunday 12: Friends of Merri Park Mother’s Day Planting – NorthcoteHelp plant a variety of indigenous understorey and groundcover plants that are adapted to Climate Change in Merri Park Wetland. Sumner Ave near Winifred St, 10am–12noon. Melway 30C9 or see Google map. Funded by Darebin City Council.

Sunday 12: Merri Bird Survey 2019 #2 (continued) – Two locationsBababi Djinanang & Coburg Lake, 8.45–10.30am. See page 3 for details.Sunday 19: Friends of Edgars Creek Silurian Cliff Site Planting – Coburg NorthEscarpment shrubland revegetation around the Silurian Cliff escarpment, 1–3pm. Access from the Kodak bridge and go right and up the hill and follow the power lines – see Google map. Funded by Melbourne Water Community Grant. Phone David 0428 130 268. Sunday 19: Jones Park – Planting & launch of new wetland – Brunswick EastAlbion Street Brunswick East – see Google map. Organised by Moreland City Council. Further details (TBC). Phone Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer on 8311 4386.Wednesday 22: Wednesday volunteersSee our website calendar: friendsofmerricreek.org.au/events-news/Sunday 26: Woody Weed Whacking, Bababi Marning #2 – Campbellfield10am–12.30pm. Help to rid these native grasslands of Broom, Gorse and Briar Rose bushes. Light refreshments provided. Meet at gate opposite 111 Metrolink Circuit Campbellfield, Melway 180 J12, or see Google map. Phone Ray 0422 989 166.

J U N ESaturday 1: Friends of Merri Park Hand Weeding – NorthcoteSame details as for Saturday 4 May.Sunday 2: Moreland City Council World Environment Day Planting & Litter Clean-up – CoburgAdjacent to the newly constructed Merri/Edgars Wetland. Enter via Nola St Coburg Nth 10am–12.30pm. Melway 17 K10 or see Google map. A combined event, celebrating World Environment Day, with other local Friends groups. Organised by Moreland City Council. Phone Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer on 8311 4386. Sunday 2: Streamteam Water Quality Testing – Nth FitzroySame details as for Sunday 5 May.Sunday 16: Woody Weed Whacking, Bababi Marning #3 in 2019 – CampbellfieldSame details as for Sunday 26 May.

Sunday 16: Friends of Edgars Creek Planting – Coburg NorthSheoak woodland extension and consolidation – at the top of the escarpment, northern end, 1–3pm. Funded by Satterley Property group. Meet at the escarpment – access by foot from the old Kodak bridge, Spectrum Way, North Coburg – see Google map. Phone David 0428 130 268.Sunday 23 : Planting at Bababi Djinanang – FawknerHelp re-establish a range of grassy ground-cover plants and reintroduce several rare wildflowers to this grassland in Fawkner. Free BBQ lunch with halal and vegetarian options. 10.00am–12.30pm. Meet at the east end of Jukes Rd, Fawkner. Melway 18 A2 or see Google map. Phone Nicole 0450 144 544.Wednesday 26: Wednesday volunteersSee our website calendar: friendsofmerricreek.org.au/events-news/

A U G U S TSaturday 3: Friends of Merri Park Hand Weeding – NorthcoteSame details as for Saturday 4 May.Sunday 4: Litter Clean Up – ReservoirEdgars Creek Reservoir, below Edwardes Lake, 10am–12noon. Melway 18 C5, or see Google map. Phone Paul 9489 5062.Sunday 4: Streamteam Water Quality Testing – Nth FitzroySame details as for Sunday 5 May.

Sunday 11: Planting at Strettle Wetland – Thornbury10am–12.30pm. FoMC site near Strettle Wetland Thornbury. Help look after the site we manage with the support of the Darebin Bush Crew. Light refreshments afterwards. Melway 30 B3, or see Google map. Phone Martin 0411 614 198.Sunday 18: Woody Weed Whacking, Bababi Marning #4 in 2019 – CampbellfieldSame details as for Sunday 26 May.