A great planting today with favourable Autumn weather and in some parts, challenging terrain.  48 of us planted 540 plants which was a terrific effort.

Project description

This project aims to extend and enhance the stream bank shrubland plantings undertaken by FoEC since 2012 at the Caravan Park site. FoEC has completed three Melbourne Water Community Grant projects at this site, however weed species have been predominant in this area (Source: B.J. Bainbridge, J.M. Bush & Faithfull, 1998.Moreland Remnant Vegetation Assessment – prepared for Moreland City Council by the Merri Creek Management Committee) and further revegetation works will enhance the existing asset created at the site. In 2013 FoEC secured Department of Sustainability and Environment support for a 2014 project protecting remnant vegetation at the site; works have now been completed on this project.  FoEC’s 2013-15 MW funded projects on the site targeted a lower escarpment area. The proposed project will in-fill and extend the planting along the upper escarpment area. An extension of an additional circular planting at this site to link with an adjoining established tree planting is proposed and will further enhance habitat value at the site. We are currently funded for works on this site in 2017 and are seeking to expand and consolidate the site through the provision of additional maintenance activities at the site.

This site has a number of identified significant remnant specimens including River Red Gum, Yellow Box, Sweet Bursaria, Purple Tree Violet, Weeping Grass, Lomandra filiformis and Danthonia species (Source: B.J. Bainbridge, J.M. Bush & Faithfull, 1998. Moreland Remnant Vegetation Assessment – prepared for Moreland City Council by the Merri Creek Management Committee). Additional areas of remnant Lomandra were identified and subsequently protected during brush cutting of the area planted during our 2014 DSE project.

Our previous works on the site incorporated design elements to increase the likelihood of self-seeding of the remnant species at the site including Red Gum, Sweet Bursaria and Purple Tree Violet. All species have now set seed and we have witnessed excellent self-seeding on the site by the remnant specimens. Further, Poa labillardiereiintroduced as part of the revegetation works are also now successfully seeding into the mulched area at this site.

Plant List for Caravan Park Site 2017

56 dedicated volunteers planted 810 plants in a little over two hours!

Hosted by the FoEC, funded by Satterley.

Plains Grassy Woodland Hilltop Area

Site Context

On top of an elevated hilltop with views across the Creek valley and the city of Melbourne to the south. This exposed site comprises heavy clay loams prone to drying out and cracking in hot weather. The site is also adjacent to the Moreland industrial area and a recapped municipal tip. As such, the integrity of the reserve would benefit from screening planting. An ephemeral waterhole is an interesting landscape feature of the site. The exposed location lends itself to Sheoak woodlands which would create a dramatic acoustic effect when the wind blows.

Habitat Objectives

(a) EVC 55 Plains Grassy (She-oak) Woodland: An overstorey dominated by stands of Black Sheoak Allocasuarina littoralis, with scattered Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa. Generally shrubby in character, including Gold-dust WattleAcacia acinacea, Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha, Lightwood Acacia implexa, Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa and Drooping Cassinia Cassinia arcuata. The grassy understorey is dominated by Wallaby-grasses and Speargrasses such as Common Wallaby-grass Austrodanthonia caespitosa, Bristly Wallaby-grass Austrodanthonia setacea, Stiped Wallaby-grass Austrodanthonia racemosa and Kneed Spear-grass Austrostipa bigeniculata. Other common species include Windmill Grass Chloris truncata, Kidney-weed Dichondra repens, Blackanther Flax-lily Dianella revoluta and Small-leaved Clematis Clematis microphylla. The presence of chenopods such as Nodding Saltbush Einadia nutans and Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa emphasise the dry nature of the community.