Projects
Dry Creek Restoration: A Community-Driven Transformation
Project location:
1160 Wallan Whittlesea Rd, Upper Plenty
Started:
Late 2023
Led by:
Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group (UPMCLG)
Supported by:
Melbourne Water, TREC Land Services, Fifteen Trees, Planet Ark
The Challenge
Dry Creek, like many waterways that rise at the base of Mount Disappointment, has long been overlooked. A section along the Wallan-Whittlesea Road—where the road realignment left behind unusually wide roadside reserves—had become choked with invasive weeds including blackberry, gorse, and hawthorn. Dumped rubbish, poor access for maintenance, and heavy roadside traffic made it a difficult site to manage and a perfect candidate for community restoration.
The Vision
UPMCLG formed in late 2023 with a clear purpose: to help local landholders and public land managers tackle woody weeds and restore degraded land. This patch of Dry Creek was one of the group’s first major initiatives. The goal was simple but ambitious—remove invasive weeds, replace them with indigenous native plants, and create habitat for local wildlife.
The Action
We received funding from the Melbourne Water – Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways project. This enabled us to get the first stage of weed spraying and revegetation up and going. We have had a number of weed management and planting days and received support from TREC Land Services, Fifteen Trees and Planet Ark. Volunteers began clearing the worst of the weeds. It was no easy task—thick blackberry canes and gorse covered much of the creek line and roadside, often reaching right into the waterway.
In July 2024, for National Tree Day, the group hosted a community planting event. Together, volunteers planted over 300 locally native trees and shrubs, including:
- Red Ironbark
- Swamp Gum
- Blackwood
- Silver Wattle
- Black Sheoak
Nesting boxes were also installed to provide shelter for native birds and small mammals, further supporting the return of biodiversity to the site.
In July 2025 we held our second major planting day as part of Planet Ark’s National Planting Day.
What’s Next
The work at Dry Creek is far from over. Volunteers plan to:
- Continue weed removal and site maintenance
- Monitor the success of plantings and nesting boxes
- Remove dumped rubbish
- Engage the broader community in stewardship of the area
Dry Creek is already showing signs of life returning, and with ongoing care, it’s on its way to becoming a thriving bushland corridor between the road and neighbouring farmland.
Partnerships Against Pests: Working Together for a Healthier Landscape
Project location:
Upper Plenty and surrounds
Started:
Early 2025
Led by:
Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group (UPMCLG)
Supported by:
Agriculture Victoria, Mitchell Shire Council, TREC Land Services, VRAN, VGT, Whittlesea Landcare, Wallan Environment Group, and others
The Challenge
Invasive pests and weeds—like blackberry, gorse, rabbits, and emerging threats such as serrated tussock—pose a serious risk to both biodiversity and productivity in peri-urban communities like Upper Plenty. The mix of long-term landholders, lifestyle properties, absentee landowners and small-scale farmers makes coordinated land management difficult.
Government support exists, but limited resources mean local communities must increasingly step up to protect their own environment—and work together across fences.
The Vision
Building on the success of earlier initiatives like the Dry Creek Restoration, UPMCLG launched the Partnerships Against Pests program to bring people together and take a strategic, inclusive, and proactive approach to weed and pest management across the region.
At its heart is a simple belief: we get better outcomes when we work together.
The Action
The grant has enabled UPMCLG to step up with a dedicated Project Officer, bringing much-needed coordination to a multifaceted program. This role helps deliver a calendar of activities and support for local landholders, including:
- On-property weed and rabbit management plans
- Mapping infestations using GPS and GIS
- Workshops, field days, and accredited training on identification and control methods
- Engagement with Community Pest Management Groups (CPMGs) for stronger regional coordination
- Tailored communications via web, social media, SMS, and newsletters to reach diverse landowners
- Planning for deeper engagement with Traditional Owners, particularly the Wurundjeri, to explore shared goals and on-Country collaboration
The first event—a Weed Management Planning Workshop—was held with strong local attendance and expert guidance from Daniel Young (TREC Land Services) and Sonia Sharkey (Mitchell Shire Council). It helped landholders develop tailored, practical plans for their properties and strengthened connections between neighbours.
What’s Next
With more events on the horizon—including accredited ACUP training, rabbit control demonstrations, leadership training, and cultural consultation—the project is just getting started.
The team will be:
- Tracking results with surveys, photo monitoring and mapping
- Strengthening working groups for long-term collaboration
- Building a digital hub of resources
- Hosting stalls at local markets to grow awareness
- Applying for further funding to keep momentum going
The Impact
This is more than a weed control program—it’s a community-building initiative that empowers locals to take action, share knowledge, and steward their land together. It’s already proving that when we combine grassroots know-how with expert input and solid coordination, big things are possible—even in small rural communities.
Community Events Program: Learning, Doing, Sharing
Project location:
Upper Plenty & surrounding Merri Creek catchment
Launched:
Mid2023
Led by:
Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group (UPMCLG)
The Vision
Our Community Events Program is much more than a calendar of workshops—it’s a framework for engagement, learning and handson action. These events bring people together through citizen science, skillsharing and habitat creation, building a stronger connection between the community and the local environment.
What We Do
UPMCLG runs an ongoing series of events that fall into three broad categories:
- Educational: Expertled talks such as “Native Fish of the Plenty River and Merri Creek” that explore local ecology, waterway health and restoration contexts
- Citizen Science: Activities like Waterwatch sampling days, where community members learn to monitor stream health through handson scientific techniques.
- HandsOn Habitat Workshops: Nest box building workshops allow participants to learn about native birds and wildlife, then construct and install boxes on their properties—creating real habitat outcomes.
Past events include a wellattended Rabbit Management Session held in collaboration with Mitchell Shire and Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) featuring expert speaker Neil Devanney. The session equipped landholders with strategies for assessing rabbit populations and implementing effective control methods.
Other examples include habitat planting days focused on indigenous sedges and aquatic plants to establish waterside biodiversity in Upper Plenty
The Impact
This program does more than just share information—it empowers individuals and strengthens community ties through shared purpose. Participants leave with practical skills, stronger relationships with neighbours, and a deeper understanding of local ecosystems. Each event builds momentum, growing Landcare’s reach and impact across the Merri catchment.
What’s Next
Looking forward, UPMCLG plans to continue:
- Designing new events that combine learning and doing
- Expanding citizen science offerings to include more Waterwatch days and biodiversity surveys
- Hosting further buildandinstall habitat workshops
- Increasing outreach through local markets, newsletters and social media
- Partnering with Traditional Owners for culturally informed environmental programming