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Page Last Updated:
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 |
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Home>Environment and Waste>Biodiversity
 The local environment
What Council does to manage biodiversity
Current projects to protect biodiversity
Our Environment Report Card
What you can do
| The local environment | | Open space makes up 21 per cent of the land area of Hobsons Bay, a surprising amount for a municipality so close to central Melbourne. Our wetlands, creeks (five in total), native grasslands and 24km of coastline provide habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna, and are valued as spaces for recreation and connection with nature. At least one species occurs only in the City of Hobsons Bay: the Altona Skipper Butterfly (shown below). Over 200 species of birds, including several migratory wading birds and around 200 species of local native plants inhabit Hobsons Bay.
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| What Council does to manage biodiversity | | Given the size and significance of these open spaces, Council is committed to working for the protection and enhancement of our local ecosystems. A Conservation and Environment (Works) Team has been established, with 1.5 Rangers and three environment works staff. Currently, eleven ‘Friends of’ groups contribute vital energy and enthusiasm to the care and management of biodiversity, open space and ecosystems within Hobsons Bay.
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| Current projects to protect biodiversity | | Kororoit Creek - establish a system of plantings along the creek corridor, and construct a shared walking and cycling path linking the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail in Altona to the Federation Trail in Brooklyn; promote a catchment approach to management of the creek. (View Kororoit Creek Management Plan)
Continue the Truganina Coastal Parklands project as a Community-Council-Corporate partnership bringing together 300ha of habitat around Laverton Creek. (Link to brochure)
Habitat Plantings - increase plantings of food sources for endangered species including the Swift Parrot (at Paisley Park and Kororoit Creek) and the Altona Skipper Butterfly (adjacent to wetlands in Altona and Altona Meadows).
Native Grasses - map local populations of native grasses in Altona North and Laverton; protect where practicable; and where feasible introduce a grassland site into our system of parks.
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| Our Environment Report Card | | | In 2006 Council exceeded its 1,400 target for the planting of new street trees, to enhance native tree habitat for a variety of species, as well as providing visual amenity and greenhouse gas abatement. In 2005/06 Council also exceeded its target for revegetation of open spaces, in conjunction with local Friends groups, planting 30,000 tubes. The work was focussed on the surrounds of the Truganina Park Wetland and Altona Coastal Park, as well as Jawbone Reserve and Newport Lakes. Top
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| What you can do | |
- Taking part in voluntary conservation work is a unique opportunity to work for a better environment in your neighbourhood. There are 11 "Friends of Parks" Groups who help to care for and improve parks and wildlife habitats in Hobsons Bay. They hold planting days throughout the year which the general public are more than welcome to attend.
- Plant local, native plants in your garden. They are uniquely adapted to our local environment and require little or no maintenance or watering. A mixture of different plant types is recommended (i.e. a mix of trees, grasses, shrubs, reeds, creepers, forbs and sedges)
- Avoid planting, and where possible remove environmental weeds such as ivy in order to promote the growth of native species
- Join a seedsavers group to help to preserve the genetic diversity of plant varieties
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