Greater Dandenong Council and its community will get together to help celebrate National Tree Day on Sunday 2 August by planting about 7,000 trees and shrubs at Falkiner Park in Dandenong.
Falkiner Park is the section of parkland on Dandenong Creek, south of Heatherton Rd. It’s a little-known treasure of grassy wetland habitat which is being restored to be enjoyed by native wildlife and local residents. This project will continue the rejuvenation of natural parkland along Dandenong Creek from the Monash Freeway to Robert Booth Reserve in Clow St, Dandenong.
The herb-rich grasses on Falkiner Park support many species of frogs, birds, reptiles and small mammals. The site is a vital one in the ‘Living Links’ regional plan – a project led by Port Phillip and Westernport CMA which is connecting areas of natural significance across Melbourne’s south east. Living Links allocates funding and resources to re-establish viable habitat for native plants and animals to thrive in an urban setting.
The Falkiner Park plantings will cost about $54,000 and are being co-funded by the City of Greater Dandenong and the Commonwealth Government through its Caring for our Country program. Local schools and community groups such as Dandenong Environment Group and Dandenong Rotary are regularly involved in projects at the reserve.
Speaking on behalf of the Australian Government, local Member for Bruce, Alan Griffin MP, welcomed the planned planting and congratulated the CMA and community volunteers involved in projects at the reserve for their hard work.
“This is one of many projects across Australia being funded under the Commonwealth Government’s $2 billion Caring for our Country initiative to improve the health, protection and management of our environment. I look forward to the improvements it will make to Falkiner Reserve for our community and our environment,” Mr Griffin said.
Greater Dandenong’s Engineering Services Director Tim Tamlin said the project would bring new life to the park.
“A boardwalk, walking tracks and picnic facilities already make the area a great place to relax. The new plantings will also help ensure that native birds and animals can survive and flourish in the area,” Mr Tamlin said.
“This is an important project for the further improvement of Dandenong Wetlands, which provides enormous benefit to the local community and for local wildlife.”
“We are very pleased to be able to work with Living Links to fund this project.”
For more information on the Living Links program please visit www.livinglinks.com.au
A National Tree Day Community Planting will be held at Falkiner Reserve, Falkiner Cres, Dandenong (Melway 90 G4) on Sunday 2 August, 10 am to 1 pm. Contact Maree Keenan on 9797 1757.
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