Latest news – Friends of Merri Creek

News Archives

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2023
Committee updates and opportunities 29th October 2023 We bid farewell and thanks to 2 retiring committee members, and share news of some opportunities to support the Friends, behind the scenes..
Indigenous plants and native bees - some research findings 29th October 2023 Read about research into the benefits indigenous plants provide for native bee diversity..
Meet me down by the Creek 29th October 2023 An exploration of themes of ecology and restoration, along Merri Creek..
Merri BirdWatch report - September 2023 29th October 2023 At our Spring Birdwatch meetings, some tallies demonstrated the negative influence Noisy Miners have on the variety of bird species..
Seeing Merri Creek with new eyes: our revealing walking tour 29th October 2023 Read on to find out about our walking tour of the Fawkner-Reservoir section of Merri Creek..
A Merri Tour coming up! 28th July 2023 Ink this in your diaries - more details to come Walking Tour: Restoration of Merri Creek Sunday 17 September 2023, 10:00am - 12:00pm Find out about the history and future plans for creek restoration and maintenance along the southern section of Merri Creek, Fawkner. All children attending must at all times be in the company of, and under the direct supervision of, their parent or guardian..
Backward step for Trawalla Avenue land and Merri Creek 28th July 2023 Great disappointment at the Minister's decision on Trawalla Avenue land..
Congratulations Ann McGregor! 28th July 2023 Congratulations to Ann McGregor for being awarded an OAM in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours..
Merri BirdWatch report - May 2023 28th July 2023 A bounty of birds in May.
Merri meanderings in winter 28th July 2023 Join Arimbi in her wander along the Merri in winter, to see what is flowering now..
North of the Ring Road - The Importance of the Upper Merri 28th July 2023 It’s a common idea among volunteers and conservationists who work along the Merri Creek - imagine if we could do more north of the Ring Road. But why? What’s actually up there, what’s so important about it, and what needs to be done?.
The latest splash from the Merri Paddle 28th July 2023 An update on Merri Paddle activities Image: Platypus, by John Morton, CC BY-SA 2.0.
marram baba Merri Creek Regional Parklands - have your say! 28th April 2023 The marram baba parklands are inching closer - the draft plan is now available for consultation - comments are open until 8 May.
Eastern Blue Tongue Lizard 27th April 2023 Merri Creek Meanderings - Blue tongue lizards along the creek basking with tiger snakes..
Friends of Coburg Lake and Surrounds 27th April 2023 The Friends of Coburg Lake are doing a power or work - transforming the landscape around the lake. Emma Hopkins, founder and convener of Friends of Coburg Lake and Surrounds, tells us more..
Handweeding on a Sunday at Strettle Wetland 27th April 2023 The first of our Strettle events for the year - handweeding to prepare for later planting events..
Merri BirdWatch report - February 2023 27th April 2023 Read about the birds and other wildlife we spotted in our February bird survey..
More seats along the Merri Creek Trail 27th April 2023 The seating project funded by Merri-bek council is underway..
Protecting the ‘sensitivity and importance of the Merri Creek corridor’ 27th April 2023 VCAT recently upheld the Merri-bek Councils decision to reject the planning application for seven 3 storey townhouses adjoining the Merri Creek parklands at 38 Harrison Street Brunswick..
Recent land acquisitions for marram baba Merri Creek Regional Parklands 27th April 2023 Two important land purchases by the state government to add to the marram baba Merri Creek Regional Parklands..
Along the Creek in Waring 26th April 2023 Read about the change of season along the Merri..
Darebin's cat curfew - is it working? 26th April 2023 Local groups are joining together to gather data to contribute to an assessment of the Darebin Cat Curfew, introduced in 2021. More eyes on the streets are needed, to add to the data bank..
Paying the rent 26th April 2023 FOMC pass on $1 of each membership fee to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation’s Narrap team..
Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group 26th April 2023 Working with locals on weed control techniques and revegetation projects.
The Merri in East Brunswick - summer meanderings 15th March 2023 Regular birdwatcher, Arimbi Winoto has written this evocative piece on her journeyings along the creek in summer. Its a time of reflection, as we proceed through autumn..
Upper Merri Landcare news 24th January 2023 Chris Cobern, Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator, is being kept busy supporting active groups of the Upper Merri catchment. Ranging from well established - to just new, they are all working to preserve precious remnants and develop habitat. .
Securing the southern populations of the Growling Grass Frog in the Merri Catchment 20th January 2023 The increase in urbanisation in the Merri catchement has affected populations of the Growling Grass Frog. Now listed as Vulnerable, plans are afoot to address the habitat and connectivity needs for the remaining frog populations to survive and grow. Supported by the Growling Grass Frog Trust, a range of locations and projects have been identified to asdvance the project. Yasmin Kelsall spoke on her work for the GGF at our 2022 AGM..
Frogs at contaminated wetlands along the Merri Creek 19th January 2023 There are many constructed wetlands along Merri Creek, capturing and filtering runoff before it enters the Creek. These sites with increased water levels are ideal habitat for frogs – however, their role as a filtration device means that they can also be sites of more intense concentration of heavy metals. They can become ecological traps – rather than ecological havens. Mavi proposes design solutions to help to reduce frog species exposure to these contaminated wetlands. .
	Merri BirdWatch report - November 2022 19th January 2023 Over the fourteen years from November 2008 to September 2022, Friends of Merri Creek bird surveyors have submitted 520 checklists to the global database eBird, across our ten regular survey sites. A total of 151 species has been recorded – quite impressive for an urban/per-urban waterway. Around 90 to 100 species have been recorded each year. On our November round of surveys, a total of 62 species was seen. .
Merri Park Wetlands 19th January 2023 The Friends of Merri Park are an active group caring for the wetland and surrounds with regular working bees. Read on to hear of their activities in 2022 and their plans for 2023..
Nick Williams, FOMC President, reflects on 2022 19th January 2023 The President spoke of the Friends new membership system and the new format (this very one!) for the Merri Growler, involvement in the development of the Merri Merri Parkland strategic plan and the Friends work around the Federal and State election. He also canvassed some of the ongoing issues the Friends need to continue to work on..
Vote early, vote often...vote Merri 19th January 2023 When American gangsters coined the phrase, they probably didn’t have in mind the opportunity we got in 2022 to vote often for the health of the Merri Creek. But such was the timing of Federal and State elections, that within the space of 6 months we could tell our elected representatives what was required to continue the forty-year, community-led project of protecting and restoring our beloved waterway. .
The health of the Merri - a journey into which future? 4th January 2023 The Friends organised an expedition to explore some of the gems of the catchment, hear about the impact of planning decisions and learn some more of the issues confronting Merri Creek. Finishing up in the north of the catchment, the group heard of the vision for the wallan wallan regional parkland incorporating Herne Swamp, burrung buluk and the volcanic cones from the ancient past. .
2022
Wednesday volunteers at Iramoo Court 11th October 2022 The Wednesday Volunteers spent their September session weeding at Iramoo Court, Fawkner. Another report from Gerry, our man in the field..
Prospectus for the Victorian state election 5th October 2022 The Friends have developed a Prospectus we have shared with candidates for the Merri Creek electorates in the upcoming state election. .
Platypus in the Merri - the work continues 26th September 2022 Under a grey sky, on the evening of 18 September, thirty people attended an event organised by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Merri Paddle at Dights Falls, hoping to sight the elusive platypus. .
Northern Trails strategy 5th September 2022 Much anticipated developments in Northern Melbourne's trail infrastructure are moving closer. .
$1.2 million is a good start 23rd August 2022 Good news on funding announced to investigate options for improving the Lower Merri Trail..
marran baba Merri Creek regional parklands consultation 9th August 2022 The consultation period for the proposed parklands ends on 16 August. We encourage all our Friends to make a submission - through an online survey, or your own response. Read on for more information on the considerations we believe are important for the parklands to realise their potential both in terms of providing biodiverse habitat and strong ecological outcomes and the benefits it will give local residents, having nature on their doorsteps, .
I should have done this months ago! 6th August 2022 The Wednesday Volunteers make a valuable contribution to ecological restoration projects along Merri Creek - read about new recruit Gerry Robinson's experiences at John Laffan Reserve, Craigieburn, following up on a planting worked on a few weeks before..
	NAIDOC week celebration at Galada Tamboore 20th July 2022 On this chilly morning, 35 of us gathered at Galada Tamboore to celebrate NAIDOC week and appreciate - close-up - the importance of caring for country..
New Parks Victoria volunteer requirements 9th July 2022 Volunteers working on Parks Victoria managed land now require current Working With Children Checks. .
	Birds along the Merri in Late Summer 26th April 2022 The Merri Birdwatch Convenor, ANN MCGREGOR, says that there were plenty of interesting sightings for 57 participants in the nine bird surveys in February. In the words of Tristan Best (leader at Bababi Marning), “it seemed everyone got something new from the day.” The biggest highlight at Galgi Ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands) was a Spotless Crake, a new species for our surveys..
	Illegally occupied site to be rezoned? 26th April 2022 Although works occurred without a permit on what is Merri Creek frontage land at 115 Trawalla Ave, Thomastown, the land is proposed to be rezoned to Industrial Zone, enabling it to be sold to the adjoining property owner. Currently it is public land owned by Melbourne Water and within the study area for the Upper Merri Parklands..
	Paddling hard for the platypus - all things Merri Paddle 26th April 2022 Convenor of the ‘Merri Paddle,’ PETER EWER, tells us what this new group has been doing. Along with a local chapter of the Australian Conservation Foundation, North by North West, Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC) has formed a sub-group called the Merri Paddle to advocate for the long-term restoration of Merri Creek to create more viable platypus habitat. .
	Plenty of plans for the upper Merri 25th April 2022 FoMC Vice President, ANN MCGREGOR, provides a brief update on the planning processes going on in the upper Merri catchment. The Victorian Planning Authority has produced a revised Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) for a new suburb to house 50,000 residents in Beveridge North West. The revised plan has two significant changes from the previous draft: the southern portion of Burrung Buluk (formerly Hanna Swamp) is protected, and a basalt quarry on Spring Hill cone is included..
	Birds along the Merri in True Spring 31st January 2022 Ann McGregor, Merri Birdwatch Coordinator, welcomes the return to birding in a group for the November set of bird surveys..
	New LGBTIQ Friends group builds wellbeing along the Merri Merri 31st January 2022 Gabriel Aleksandrs tells about the formation of the new FoMC subgroup, LGBTIQ Friends of Bababi Djinanang, and that, despite the pandemic affecting many conservation activities, this subgroup continues to grow..
2021
The Merri Paddle - a new Merri Creek group 19th September 2021 A new Merri Creek subgroup has been formed - the Merri Paddle. The group has formed to lay the foundations for the eventual return of the platypus to Merri Creek, by working with existing organisations to promote restoration of the creek, with a focus on reversing the damage of Urban Stream Syndrome. .
Webinar - Plirding! 6th September 2021 Another in our webinar series - exploring Plirding - picking up litter while birding..
	Webinar - From weed infested drain to bushland haven 2nd August 2021 Discover the story of the restoration of Merri Creek..
	Platypus in the Merri Creek 4th May 2021 Platypus DNA in the Merri Creek .
	Birds along the Merri in true Spring 27th April 2021 Latest report from Ann McGregor, Merri BirdWatch Coordinator .
	Prickly Pears, a problem? 19th April 2021 'Do we have a Prickly Pear problem on the Merri Creek?'.
	Hanna Swamp 16th March 2021 Hanna Swamp, a wetland just south of Wallan.
	The trouble with Indian Mynas 10th February 2021 The trouble with Indian Mynas .
	Welcome to the Friends of Edwardes Lake 22nd January 2021 An active Friends group is working at Edwardes Lake..
2020
	Powerful owls in Yarra 3rd November 2020 Join the Yarra Council for a webinar on the Powerful owls in Yarra..
	Whittlesea Grasslands webinar 23rd September 2020 Whittlesea Grasslands webinar Celebrating National Threatened Species Day. You can watch our webinar "At home in Whittlesea’s Grasslands" with Michael Longmore, manager of MCMC’s Ecological Restoration Program, and Josh Cox, the Director of Reptile Encounters. .
	Hanna Swamp 14th August 2020 Restoring swamps in the Merri catchment. Read the Hanna Swamp Discussion Paper: Analysing the gaps in policy and planning for wetlands within Melbourne’s urban growth areas. .
2019
Muddy Merri troubles update 20th May 2019 Muddy Merri Troubles, continues. .
Successful community grant from Melbourne Water 29th April 2019 Successful grant from Melbourne Water. .
	New discussion paper from the Nature Glenelg Trust 18th March 2019 Nature Glenelg Trust Paper. .
2018
	Loss at VCAT for Merri Creek land 14th November 2018 Lost land at marram baba Parklands. .
	More land for Merri Creek 10th October 2018 Win for Spry Street campaign .
Media release: migratory birds returning 6th September 2018 Read about the return of migratory birds to Merri Creek.. For more information download this document
Media Release: FoMC say it’s time to raise Merri Creek awareness & appreciation 16th August 2018 FOMC Media Release. .
Successful grants for Merri Creek projects 14th August 2018 Successful FOMC grants..
Lost VCAT appeal 4th August 2018 VCAT appeal for Thomastown site.
	Merri gets muddy - twice! 12th July 2018 Merri Creek gets muddy.
	Update #2 on VicRoads land, McBryde St Fawkner. 12th July 2018 VicRoads land, McBryde St Fawkner.
Funding promise for the creeks 5th May 2018 Funding promise for the creeks.
	SWOT-ing weed orchids 5th May 2018 Weed Orchids .
VicRoads land off McBryde St, Fawkner for sale 5th May 2018 McBryde St, Fawkner.
	Ninth Murnong gathering 20th February 2018 Murnong Gathering .
2016
Darebin Council to buy Lakeside College land 17th November 2016 Lakeside College land. .
New “Help the Blue-banded Bee” crowd-funding campaign 1st August 2016 Crowd-funding for the "Blue-banded Bee".
Changes along Merri path 4th July 2016 Changes to the Merri Path .
	Seeking action on Marran Baba 4th July 2016 Action on Marran Baba .
	Woody Weeds get Whacked 4th July 2016 Woody Weed Whacking .
2015
Protecting the Upper Merri 6th January 2015 Submissions to protect biodiversity along the Merri. .
2014
Upper Merri developments 12th May 2014 Upper Merri developments .
Improving gorge-ous views 27th January 2014 Melbourne Water River Health incentives program grant for the restoration of native vegetation at Northcote Gorge. .
0024
Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme 4th February 0024 At last! The Container Deposit Scheme is up and running..