Tag Archives: Merri Creek

MCMC September 2023 events along Merri Creek

Walking Tour: Restoration of Merri Creek

Sunday 17 September, 10am-12pm
East end of Lorne St, Fawkner – see Google map
Register: FB Event

Find out about the history and future plans for creek restoration and maintenance along the southern section of Merri Creek, Fawkner.

Featuring Michael Longmore, MCMC Ecological Restoration Program Manager, and Anne Frost, Coordinator of Friends of Merri Creek’s Wednesday Volunteers. Wear shoes suitable for light walking (approx. 3.3km) and BYO water and snacks.

Note: At all times, children must be in the company of, and under the direct supervision of, their parent or guardian. Please don’t attend if you are feeling unwell and have any cold or flu-like symptoms. Organised by Friends of Merri Creek and supported by MCMC.

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Bird watching along Merri Creek Spring 2019

Red-capped Robin

It’s spring and here is your chance to get out and explore the avian wildlife of the Merri Creek catchment.

The Friends of Merri Creek runs bird surveys along the creek. The early spring bird surveys along Merri Creek are on 15 September and 22 September. Come along and enjoy a busy time of year for the birds!

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Friends of Merri Creek local flora program gains biodiversity funding

Congratulations to Friends of Merri Creek for receiving $50,000 in community biodiversity grant funding from the state government for their program: The Secret Seven: Seeds for our Flora’s Future.

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio visited the sheoak woodlands at Moomba Park in Fawkner on September 14 where the announcement was made that an additional $4 million will go towards community-based projects in the latest round of grants under the Biodiversity On-ground Action program. (See Ministerial press release)
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EPA acts on Salsa spill at Campbellfield

While Fawkner residents still have unanswered questions with the EPA over the Fawkner toxic site, a recent spill in Campbellfield was promptly acted upon by the EPA.

A spill of tomato salsa from Baxters Foods Australia P/L, of Jesica Road, Campbellfield into a drain that connects with Merri Creek brought prompt action of a fine issued for $7773 and a notice and a legally enforceable instruction to the company to modify and install controls to ensure waste from the site is not able to enter the soil or stormwater.
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Upgrade for Merri Creek Park at Campbellfield while connecting cycling paths remain missing

Panorama of Merri Creek and Merri Gorge, Campbellfield

The State Government announced $1.7 million upgrade to develop visitor infrastructure, including 6km of new bike and walking paths, at Merri Creek Park in Campbellfield. But we are still to see any commitment to build important bicycle shared use paths in Campbellfield: the extension of Merri Creek Trail and Extension of the Upfield bike path to Barry Road at Upfield.

The Money for the Merri Creek Park facilities comes from the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) fund. The 6 km of new paths will improve some community access to the 650 hectare green space in Campbellfield, which hosts nationally significant native grasslands. It is a real pity there is no public commitment from state MPs to fund the missing links that would help connect the park and local residential suburbs.

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Bird surveying along Merri Creek – November 2016

Red-browed Finch

Red-browed Finch


Friends of Merri Creek: You’re invited to the November bird surveys along Merri Creek. See meeting points below.

On Sunday 20 November from 8:45am – 10:30am
at Galada Tamboore, Egan-Strettle Reserves Coburg East, CERES Blyth St-Moreland Rd, Kirkdale-Merri Parks, Clifton Hill, Edwardes Lake and Galgi Ngarrk/Craigieburn Grasslands.

On Sunday 27 November from 8:45am – 10:30am
at Bababi Djinanang and Coburg Lake.

Beginner-birders are welcome to Friends of Merri Creek surveys, as well as experienced birders. Bring binoculars if you have them, and closed-in footwear, sun-hat or raingear if necessary, and drinking water. No dogs, please.

Survey meeting points:

Galgi Ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands): Meet at the O’Herns Road gate off Hume Highway, Somerton (Melway 180 E6). Note this survey can take up to 12 noon to complete.
Galada Tamboore: Meet at the end of Hatty Court, Campbellfield (Melway 7 K6).
Egan Reserve-Harding St-Strettle Reserve: Meet at the steps at end of The Grove, East Coburg (Melway 30 A3).
Edwardes Lake: Meet at the playground adjacent to Griffiths Street, Reservoir (Melway 18 E5).
CERES to Moreland Road: Meet at the seats on the Merri Path at rear of CERES near Blyth Street, East Brunswick (Melway 30 B7).
Kirkdale Reserve & Merri Park: Meet at the end of Victoria Street, East Brunswick, at barbecue shelter (Melway 30 B8).
Hall Reserve Clifton Hill: Meet at the Rotunda, Hall Reserve, Clifton Hill (Melway 2D D1).
Coburg Lake Reserve: Meet near the car park, Lake Grove Coburg (Melway 17 H10).
Bababi Djinanang: Meet on the Merri Path at the end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melway 18 A2).

Flax Lily & Blue-banded Bee Wild Pollinator Count

20161026_flax-lily-bluebanded-bee-count

Ever wanted to be a citizen scientists? Here is your chance to help out in Fawkner.

Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Merri Creek invite you to participate in the Flax Lily & Blue-banded Bee Wild Pollinator Count.

What: Flax Lily & Blue-banded Bee Wild Pollinator Count
When: Sunday 13 November, 10am-12.30pm
Where: Meet in the Parklands at the east end of Jukes Rd Fawkner
(Melway 18 A2).

Visit the Lily and Blue Banded Bee project sites, place a Bee Hotel & count the wild pollinators!

Refreshments will be provided.

Phone Ray or Monica at MCMC 9380 8199. This project is funded by Victorian Government’s Threatened Species Grant and the many generous donors of a crowdfunding campaign!

Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena) at Bababi Djinanang native grassland Fawkner

Merri Creek: From wasteland to parklands exhibition

Inspecting the grasslands

Inspecting the grasslands


For October 2016 Fawkner Library features a unique exhibition of photographs showing the Merri Creek Valley before and during it’s transformation over the last 40 years.

Pop in to the library to enjoy this free exhibition and appreciate the work of so many people, many volunteers to make Merri Creek an important natural ecosystem refuge in our urban environment.

The photographic exhibition is by the Merri Creek Management Committee and the Friends of Merri Creek.

Featuring ‘before and after’ photographs illustrating the transformation of Merri Creek from a drain and dumping ground to a waterway and a much-loved bushland corridor, the exhibition celebrates the ongoing collaborative efforts by community volunteers, local Councils, government agencies and others. While there is still much to be done, the creek continues to improve.

Event: Monday 03 October 2016 to Friday 28 October 2016 during Fawkner Library Open hours
Cost: Free

Opening hours

Monday and Thursday 11 am – 5.30 pm
Tuesday 11 am – 8 pm
Wednesday and Friday 11 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 1 pm
Sunday closed

On Mother’s Day, help Mother Earth with Habitat Heros in Fawkner

Tree planting August 2014

Tree planting August 2014


Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Merri Creek have another tree planting in Fawkner on Mother’s Day, Sunday 8 May, 2016

Everyone is invited to help out at this event:

On Mother’s Day, help Mother Earth by planting to add to the habitat along Merri Creek.

There’s also skin art for children and you can learn about local Aboriginal culture. Later, enjoy a free barbecue with vegetarian and Halal options.

When: Sunday, May 8 at 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: East end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melways Map 18 A2)

In the past these plantings of trees and native grasses have been enormously successful. Come along and meet your neighbours. Help restore the habitat and ensure wildlife diversity along the Merri Creek.

Threat to Merri Creek Path with Sale of Lakeside Secondary College site

20140726-Merri-creek-path-sale-lakeside-sc
Merri Creek forms an important parkland for the north-south length of Fawkner and Reservoir. It is also an important corridor for wildlife and for users of the Merri Creek Shared bike path which winds its way along the creek sometimes on the east and sometimes the west bank.

The path uses the east bank of the creek behind the Department of Education site in Reservoir, where Lakeside Secondary College once stood. The title to the this site at 31 Radford St, Reservoir extends down to the creek verge. The Educational Department wants to sell the property and has requested the site to be rezoned for Industrial use.

Several hectares of the site lie outside the school fence on a bend of the Creek and have been planted and managed for about 30 years by Darebin Council, as part of the Merri Creek open space corridor.

If the creek frontage is sold without transfer of title to the Crown or Darebin Council, access to and use of the Merri Creek Shared pathway could be threatened.
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