Claire Weekley from Friends of Merri Creek talks about the campaign to create the Wallan Wallan Regional Park about 45 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD.
The area includes wetlands, waterways, and grasslands, as well as astonishing grassy hills that are volcanic cones, and stony rises formed by old lava flows. This provides habitat for various threatened species including the Growling Grass Frog and the Golden Sun Moth.
Drainage works in the past led to the substantial loss of wetlands, however these can be restored in a beautiful regional park and protected into the future. Benefits would include: amenity and enjoyment of nature, flood prevention, groundwater protection, cooling of surrounding suburbs (that can act as 'heat traps'), meaningful conciliation with traditional owners, and an avenue for education about nature and ecology.
Listeners are urged to get behind the campaign to establish the Wallan Wallan Regional Parkland.
Links
Wallan Wallan Regional Parkland campaign
Find and contact your local MP
Jennifer Borrell & Jacques Boulet