Jacksons Creek cultural landscapes

Empowering Traditional Owners to help establish a new Regional Parkland

The Holden Flora and Fauna Reserve is not well known in the local community, but along with other public and private land to its north and south, has very significant conservation values that are being compromised by pest plants and animals. It also forms part of the recently announced, “Jacksons Creek Regional Parklands”, and with the Redstone and Everley subdivisions selling land on the opposite bank, the timing is primed for a significant funding injection. This project will build resilience for important biodiversity in the Reserve and adjoining properties in the face of rapidly expanding urban pressure. It will also help establish the foundation for a Parkland that can support the well-being of this rapidly expanding community.

From a practical perspective, a significant barrier to rehabilitation of this site are large woody weeds located in the riparian zone. The extent of these weeds demands the use of heavy machinery. The Project will navigate the sensitivities associated with heavy machinery use along creeklines by empowering the Traditional Owners to undertake the core weed control works themselves. Training to expand their heavy machinery operator skill base will also deliver on the government’s social procurement commitments, bring significant business development benefits to the Wurundjeri and demonstrate to Partners and other interested parties how landscape rehabilitation can be achieved in culturally sensitive areas.

Themes and Local Areas

Primary Theme:Waterways
Other Themes:Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, Native vegetation, Native animals
Primary Local Area:Macedon Ranges, Hume, Mitchell & Whittlesea
Other Local Areas:
Project location:This project works along Jacksons Creek to the south of Sunbury
Scale of the project:Local
New or continuing work:New project/work

Project partners

Lead organisation:Melbourne Water
Key partners:Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria, Friends of Holden Flora and Fauna Reserve, Hume Council, Greater Western Water
Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area:Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation

Investment opportunities

Opportunities for investors within this project start from:$$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars)
Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation:$$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars)
Estimated timeframe for full project implementation:2-10 years

Contribution toward targets

Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target:Achieve an average score for waterway amenity of HIGH for the Maribyrnong catchment
Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal:Engage Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians to include Aboriginal values and knowledge in the project
Relevant National Landcare Program priority:Soil, biodiversity and vegetation – Projects that will protect and enhance on-farm remnant native vegetation

More information

Corinne.Mays@melbournewater.com.au