The funding is part of the Government’s $200 million Urban Rivers and Catchments Program which is restoring rivers and waterways in our towns to better protect communities and native species.

A new $1.8 million project will re-naturalise a reach of Forest Creek in Central Castlemaine, creating habitat and wildlife linkages between Forest Creek, Campbells Creek and Barkers Creek.

Key activities for the project include instream works to re-create meanders, riffles and pool, installation of litter traps, and restoration of riparian vegetation.

The project will be delivered by the North Central Catchment Management Authority in concert with local conservationists from the Castlemaine Landcare group.

A separate project put forward by The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate action and the Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare Group received $200,000.

The Campbells Creek project is part of the ‘Urban Rivers Platypus Recovery Initiative (The Platy Patch)’ a major statewide urban waterway protection and restoration project aimed at improving streambank and aquatic habitats critical for Platypus and threatened species.

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MINSITER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, TANYA PLIBERSEK MP: 

“We want to leave nature better off for our kids and grandkids – and that’s why we’re restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs with a $200 million investment.

“Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants are in urban areas, home to 96 per cent of Australia’s population.

“And with so many native plants and animals reliant on our rivers, creeks, wetlands, and estuaries, protecting and restoring the health of our waterways is essential.

“This critical funding is good news for native wildlife and the community – improving the quality of the urban spaces that we all share and love.”

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP: 

“This funding is crucial to the restoration of Forest Creek and the community’s efforts to protect the waterway’s habitat for the native species that depend on it.

“Some of the damage done to Forest Creek to channelise and straighten it dates back to the Gold Rush. This project is going to help repair this damage and finally help restore our natural environment.

“The $2 million in grant funding will help protect and restore this significant waterway and ensure our kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this beautiful part of our local community, along with the threatened species that reside in it, for generations to come.”