Tag Archives: 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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Next Merri Creek Bird survey 16 February 2014

IMG_1101_New_Holland_HoneyeaterInterested in seeing the Bababi Djinanang grasslands in Fawkner and the native fauna and flora of the area? Come along to the next bird survey on Sunday 16 February, 8.45-10.30am.

Bird surveys gather data which provides useful information for tracking bird species numbers and movements over several seasons.

Beginners welcome. Bring drinking water, and binoculars if you have them. Closed-in footwear and a sunhat would also be useful. No dogs, please. Be aware that snakes could be around.

In Fawkner: Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner: Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melway 18 A2) at 8.45am. The bird suvey provides an opportunity to explore the fenced off area of Bababi Djinanang grasslands area, an opportunity to see some of the rarer grassland plant species and the birds that make this part of Merri Creek their home. In recent months there has been a small mob of kangaroos in the grasslands.

Friends of Merri Creek run the bird survey on a quarterly basis up and down Merri Creek.

How about visiting a part of the Merri that you haven’t seen? – choose a site from the list below.

Survey meeting points for Sunday 16 February 2014 at 8.45-10.30am:

Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner: Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melway 18 A2).
Egan Reserve-Harding St-Strettle Reserve: Meet at the steps at end of The Grove, East Coburg (Melway 30 A3).
Coburg Lake Reserve: Meet near the car park, Lake Grove Coburg (Melway 17 H10).
Edwardes Lake: Meet at the playground adjacent to Griffiths St, 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).
Phillips Reserve, Merri Park: Meet at the end of Victoria St, East Brunswick, at barbecue shelter (Melway 30 B8).
Hall Reserve- Yarra Bend Park: Meet at the Rotunda, Hall Reserve, Clifton Hill (Melway 2D D1).
Galada Tamboore: Meet at the end of Hatty Court, Campbellfield (Melway 7 K6).
Galgi Ngaark (Craigieburn Grasslands): Meet at the O’Herns Road gate off Hume Highway (Melway 180 E6).

Bababi Marning (Cooper St Grasslands): Meet outside the Istrian Social Club, Cooper St Epping (Melway 387K10). The survey at Bababi Marning will be a week later, on 23 February, 8.45-10.30am.

Merri Creek Bird Survey at Bababi Djinanang November 2013

Red-browed Finch

Red-browed Finch

The quarterly bird survey along Merri Creek is on Sunday 10 November. In Fawkner the survey is at Bababi Djinanang. Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road, Fawkner (Melway 18 A2) just before 8.45am.

Beginner-birders are always welcome to participate in surveys. Bring binoculars if you have them, and preferably wear sombre colours. Closed-in footwear and a sunhat would also be useful. No dogs, please.

Also on 10 November following the surveys, you are invited to a workshop on tackling Common (Indian) Mynas, an invasive pest bird.
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Surveying the birds of the Merri in Winter Sunday 26 May

IMG_1101_New_Holland_HoneyeaterAutumn is upon us and another bird survey is about to take place up and down Merri Creek. Bird surveys provide useful data for mapping the changing patterns and distribution of bird species. It is one small but significant way that anyone can contribute to science. (See Using Citizen Science in Urban Bird Studies)

In Fawkner the survey will be at Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner. Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road at 8.45am, Sunday 26 May 2013.
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Merri Creek Bird Survey November

bird of prey over Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd Grasslands)

A bird of prey over Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd Grasslands)

Fancy yourself a budding scientist? Or just enjoy a walk along Merri Creek parklands identifying the numerous bird species that live or frequent the area?

The November Merri Creek Bird Survey, the 4th survey for the year, will take place next Sunday 11 November, 8.45-10.30am. The survey is undertaken at several locations up and down Merri Creek, and at Lake Edwardes including at Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner.

Come along. No need to book. Just turn up at 8.45am. Bring binoculars if you have them, a sunhat and closed-in shoes. Leave dogs at home.
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Plant a tree in Fawkner for mother’s day at Bababi Djinanang grasslands

Merri Creek Path at Bababi Djinanang native grassland Fawkner

Mothers Day this Sunday, and while chocolates are nice any time and flowers will last a week, a tree planted at Bababi Djinanang grasslands may last a lifetime and more. Come along to a Council sponsored planting at the end of Jukes Rd this Sunday. Plant a tree for your mum or bring your mum to plant a tree.

Mother’s Day Planting & BBQ at Fawkner. Come along and bring your mum to Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd grassland) in this tree planting organised by Friends of Merri Creek and funded by Moreland Council. A BBQ will be held at the end of the tree planting.

Where: Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Rd grassland), Fawkner
When: 10am-12.30pm, Sunday May 13, 2012,
More details: Phone Lori Arthur at Moreland Council on 8311 4386.