The project to revegetate a plot of land in Garfield is continuing and another popular day of community planting is coming up in May.
The site between Lovers Lane and Lone Pine Road runs along the Walkers Road drain which is owned Melbourne Water, who made the decision in 2022 to cease leasing the land out to farmers to run stock and instead revegetate partnering with Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare with the long-term project of restoring the land.
This decision aligned with Melbourne Water’s increasing environmental priorities. It is an important link in Cardinia Shire’s biolink plan for the area joining the Garfield railway line vegetation to the main drain.
In 2023 there were over 10,000 plants put in at the site. Weed contractors have also been busy spraying the blackberries, flax leaf broom, scotch thistle, onion weed, bridal creeper, wild turnip and pittosporums.
Cannibal Creek Landcare ran community planting days last year which garnered a significant turn out from residents for a day in the sun and helping local wildlife.
The plants are reportedly doing well and most are thriving. The stakeholders are learning what plants are best suited at the site, which before European settlement was predominantly swamp paperbark, swamp gum and blackwood acacia.
Remnants of the original vegetation can be seen along the Lovers Lane and Walkers Road fence line. The birdlife is already increasing and as the new plants grow the variety of bird species and numbers will grow too. T
he Latham’s Snipe has recently been sighted there. This is a migratory bird which breeds in Russia and Japan and spends its non breeding period in Australia on the south east coast and Tasmania.
This bird is listed as vulnerable, so the landcare group was excited to find them visiting. The southern brown bandicoot is another important species the landcare group are endeavouring to establish at Lovers Lane. This year will see the installation of bandicoot shelters to help protect them from predators. There are plans to undertake a fox control program at the site to reduce the devastating impact they have on the bandicoots and other native animals.
Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare invite all volunteers to come along on the Sunday 5 May to see the progress and to help with the next stage of planting. Cardinia Council Mayor Jack Kowarzik will be attneding the day.
Parking will be at Wagstaff’s on Lovers Lane, just past the bridge. There is a 200 metre walk along a bush track to the planting site. A free coffee van, morning tea and sausage sizzle lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
