The funding will restore critical habitat along the creek, help manage flood risk, and empower Traditional Owners to practice and promote cultural and spiritual connections to the creek.

The project could include erosion control and creek stabilisation, creek renaturalisation and removing sediment and contaminants to improve the amenity and function of the creek.

It will also allow for more community involvement in the creek. The project could expand community water monitoring, provide local Landacre with more support and undertake a community education campaign.

This project builds on the very successful Albanese Government Urban Rivers program that has funded over 100 projects to clean up local rivers and waterways and improve much needed green spaces in our cities and suburbs.

Consistent with past practice, election commitments made during the 2025 Federal Election campaign will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“Australians love spending time outdoors. We want to better protect our urban spaces, and the plants and animals that call them home, so they can continue to be enjoyed by our kids and grandkids.

“Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants are in urban areas. Investing in projects like this is great for our precious native wildlife, and great for the local community.

“This commitment builds on the Government’s other investments to better protect our environment, including over $550 million to better protect threatened plants and animals and tackle invasive pests. We’ve also invested $200 million in over 100 projects to clean up rivers and waterways in urban areas, including the Forest Creek revitalisation project in Castlemaine.

“This is in addition to the $250 million announced in last month’s budget to protect an extra 30 million hectares of Aussie bush – and area the size of New Zealand.

“The choice at the election couldn’t be clearer. Labor will protect nature, fund essential science, invest in threatened species, and act on climate change. Or the climate deniers and wreckers of the Liberal and National parties, who haven’t made a single commitment that would help improve nature.”

Quotes attributable to the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters:

“The Bendigo Creek flows over 150km through the Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Barapa Barapa Traditional Owners which includes the present-day City of Greater Bendigo and Shire of Campaspe.

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

“Bendigo Creek was significantly impacted during the Gold Rush period of the 1850’s.  This funding is going to help repair this damage and improve our natural environment.”