The Victorian State Government is enhancing the health of Victoria’s iconic waterways, and creating more habitats for the native wildlife that inhabit them.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney announced the 10 grant recipients who will share in a $2 million investment from the Green Links Grants Program, resulting in over 1,800 native plants flourishing in populated urban areas and providing more green spaces for communities to enjoy.
This round will improve 70 hectares of land to improve the habitats for threatened native wildlife, including the powerful owl and the growling grass frog, across our cities and towns.
“Our urban waterways are important to our communities’ health and wellbeing, along with providing vital habitat for native wildlife,” Tierney said. “Green Links grants are empowering local communities to protect their local waterways and create greener open spaces in urban areas for more families to enjoy.”
The Friends of Kororoit Creek joined the Minister at Kororoit Creek in Sunshine. It was a recipient that received a $23,000 grant towards the Slice of Haven in Suburbia project to help transform its streamside reserves using tubestock and native seeds.
Other successful projects include a $350,000 investment to transform a section of Barongarook Creek through Colac into a thriving natural asset and nearly $300,000 to weed and plant 6,000 seedlings across 17.5 hectares of woodland alongside Darebin Creek, which will be incorporated into the future Bunjil Nganga (Quarry Hills) Parkland.
Waterways and parklands play a crucial role in supporting community wellbeing by providing safe, natural spaces for people to enjoy. Many of these projects encourage communities to volunteer and support local initiatives aimed at improving habitat and water quality, such as tree planting.
The funding builds on more than $6 million provided to 23 projects through the first round of the Green Links Grants in 2024, which has supported the revegetation of more than 200 hectares of land across the Yarra, Maribyrnong, Werribee, and Barwon River catchments.
For more information on the Green Links Grants Program, visit water.vic.gov.au.
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