Colac Otway Shire Council is inviting community members to roll up their sleeves and take part in upcoming GreenLinks community planting days along Barongarook Creek.
The first of four community planting days will be held on Friday 7 August, from 9.30 am to 11.30 am, between Harris Street and George Street, Colac. Additional planting days will be held on Friday 28 August, Sunday 13 September and Friday 16 October.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or planting for the first time, everyone is welcome to come along and help restore this important local waterway.
Central Otway Landcare Network will facilitate the event, bringing a wealth of local knowledge and practical restoration experience to support and guide participants. Everyone should bring a hat, sturdy shoes and plenty of enthusiasm.
Council's Manager Sustainable Environments, Dora Novak, said the planting days offered a valuable opportunity for the community to make a hands-on contribution to the local environment and be part of this transformative restoration project.
"Every plant established along Barongarook Creek will help improve habitat, support local biodiversity and contribute to a healthier, more resilient waterway for future generations," Ms Novak said.
The planting days are part of the GreenLinks Barongarook Creek Rewilding project, which will transform more than 11 hectares of creek frontage into a thriving natural and community asset.
The project will remove a wide range of invasive weeds, including willow trees, a Weed of National Significance, and re-establish native vegetation along the creek. This work will help reconnect previous restoration sites with existing remnant vegetation, creating a more continuous habitat corridor for local wildlife.
Working with project partners Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Central Otway Landcare Network, V/Line, local schools and community groups, the project will support hands-on opportunities for the community to restore biodiversity, improve waterway health and strengthen stewardship of the land. These activities will help build resilience to the pressures of urbanisation and extreme weather while fostering lasting connections between people and the natural environment.
Colac Otway Shire Council successfully secured a $349,410 grant from the Victorian Government GreenLinks Program to deliver the project.
