Mitchell Shire Council has welcomed a $1 million Victorian Government investment to plan the proposed wallan wallan Regional Park, which could protect creeks, wetlands and open space around Wallan and Beveridge.
Minister for Environment Jaclyn Symes announced the funding on Wednesday 21 October 2026. It will help define the park's boundary and work out how it can be delivered.
What could the park include?
The park could take in Merri Creek, Herne Swamp, burrung buluk (Hanna Swamp), Kalkallo Creek and Mount Fraser, with a shared trail linking Wallan to Melbourne.
For local families, that means places to walk, exercise and explore close to home. The planning work will also look at how the park can help keep growing neighbourhoods cooler, restore natural drainage and protect habitat for native plants and animals.
Why does it matter?
A 2022 feasibility study identified around 2,800 hectares of public and private land that could form part of the park. The Victorian Government says it could serve around 430,000 people by 2036.
The same study found the area is home to five nationally threatened ecological communities, including critically endangered native grasslands, along with old River Red Gums and threatened species such as the Growling Grass Frog and Golden Sun Moth.
"Wallan and Beveridge are growing fast, and the families moving here need room to get outdoors and connect with nature," Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said.
"This funding is a welcome step towards a park our community will rely on for generations.
"The creeks, wetlands and volcanic hills around Wallan are part of what makes this area special. The time to protect them is now, before the land around them is developed."
What is Council doing?
On Monday 15 June 2026, Council voted unanimously to join the wallan wallan Regional Parklands Alliance as a supporting member, with Councillor Claudia James as its representative. The Alliance's members include the Merri Creek Management Committee and the Wallan Environment Group, and it formed to push for the park to be established.
"We'll keep working with the Alliance, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owners and the Victorian Government until this park is funded and delivered," Cr Dougall said.
What happens next?
Traditional Owners, local communities and community groups will help shape the plans. The final boundary is expected to be set through precinct structure planning, the process that decides where homes, roads and open space go in new growth areas.
The funding is part of the Victorian Government's $315 million Suburban Parks Program.
Why is wallan wallan written in lower case?
wallan wallan is the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung name for the Wallan area. The traditional name isn't capitalised. The park's future name will be decided by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.
