june 2026

From the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator

Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator and the Merri Creek Management Committee. Please find below information on local initiatives, opportunities and funding.

To subscribe see link below.

If you would like to share photos, events, updates and projects through the Upper Merri Landcare News. Please email through your submissions to: 

Recent Events

Landcare-BUPA Planting Day

The Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group held a tree planting day recently with volunteers from BUPA Australia.
The volunteers planted over over 120 indigenous plants on a farm in Upper Plenty.
These plantings will help provide important wildlife habitat and nesting sites for woodland birds.
The project was supported by funding from Fifteen Trees.

Beveridge nest box monitoring

Members of the Beveridge Environment Group-FoMC recently assisted with monitoring and installing nesting boxes at two bushland reserves in Beveridge. We were very pleased to find the rare brush-tailed phascogales using some of the boxes at The Crest Conservation Reserve as well as sugar gliders and ringtail possums; and we also installed new boxes for phascogales and owls at the Range Road Reserve in Beveridge.
Hollows are crucial for shelter and breeding sites for much of our wildlife and these artificial homes are helping the wildlife to persist in our area.

Working Bee & Hand-weeding Workshop

The Wallan Environment Group held a very productive working bee at the Hidden Valley rail reserve where they removed many gorse and blackberry seedlings in preparation for two planting days that are coming up at the reserve this winter. The project is supported by VicTrack.

Night walk at Hidden Valley Rail Reserve

On a recent night walk we saw six ringtail possums and with the help of a bat detector device we got to hear and see many of the small insectivourous forest bats flying along the the walking track. It was a warm night and they were very actively hunting for insects. The device detected at least three different species of bat at the reserve. 

Beveridge Environment Group-FoMC Frog Talk

Members of the Beveridge Environment Group-FoMC recently got to see a wonderful presentation by wildlife ecologist and frog expert David De Angelis about the local frogs that live around Beveridge and the Upper Merri catchment. We also learnt about how to create a garden and frog pond that attracts frogs into our gardens.

Wallan wallan Regional Parkland

Creating the wallan wallan Regional Parkland will provide habitat for waterbirds and wildlife, supporting migratory populations of threatened bird species.
Iconic species such as the Brolga were once common in this region, and the return of the wetlands within the parkland will also help this amazing bird to return to the area.
The Parkland will serve as a wildlife destination and establish permanent habitat for a significant number of flora and fauna such as Growling Grass Frogs.
Click here to sign our petition, calling on the State Government to commit to the establishment of the wallan wallan Regional Parkland.

Sow the seeds of a wetland - support of campaign

In the upper reaches of Merri Creek, on Melbourne’s northern fringe, lies the footprint of what was once a vast wetland.
Against all odds, you can still find some of the rarest plant species in the Merri Creek catchment. We need your help to carry out critical on-ground works that will protect these fragile ecosystems, as well as laying the foundations for restoring the wider Herne Swamp landscape.
Your donation will enable:
🔥 An ecological burn to create space for native plants to thrive
⛏ Targeted weed control to reduce pressure from invasive species
🌱 Propagation of rare wetland plants, building a seed source for future restoration
👐 Workshops to teach local volunteers how to grow and care for these species.
Donations by 30th June, Link Here.

Coming Up 

wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance - Walk and Gawk

Join the wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance this Sunday 21st June for a morning of marvellous views and wonderful waterbirds on the shortest day of the year.
Begin the day with a warming walk up Green Hill to admire the views over the region, hearing more about the wallan wallan Regional Parkland.
Follow this with a visit to the wetlands of Wallara Waters, to look for waterbirds hosted by local bird experts.
Hot drinks and light snacks will be provided, please BYO cup.

If you only want to attend the Wallara Waters component, please select 'Wallara Waters only' when booking.
For more information and to register: https://events.humanitix.com/mid-winter-walk-and-gawk

Meeting point: Greenhill Recreation Reserve (Wallan Bowls Club entrance).
Here's the Google maps pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LUK3x3b4vhtkPS2F7

All welcome!

Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Litter Clean-Up

When: 10am - 11:30am, Sunday 28th June 

Please join the Upper Plenty Merri Catchment Landcare Group (UPMCLG) and MCMC for a community litter clean up and citizen science litter audit. Be part of the solution as we remove litter from the Merri Creek and surrounds, and discuss future actions that should be taken to protect the Creek.

Families are welcome (children and anyone under the ages of 18 years to be supervised by an adult). BYO drink bottle, sun hat and wear closed shoes with good grip.

Registration essential HERE.

Meeting point: Merri Creek Reserve. Corner of South Mountain Road and Epping Kilmore Road.

Supported by Melbourne Water.

Funding Opportunities

Melbourne Water Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program 

These grants, open all-year around, fund projects and longer term partnerships that provide value to Melbourne Water and the community by aligning with at least one of the following themes:

• Connected habitat and catchments
• Integrated water management (IWM) enablers
• Science, innovation and technology
• Liveable cities

Eligible activities include weed removal, revegetation, erosion control, signage, habitat creation, stormwater management, fencing, irrigation plans, farm layout design and more.

Individual landholders encouraged to find out more here.