Improving 10 hectares to benefit endangered plant species
The project aims to restore approximately 10 hectares of weed infested land to protect a number of endangered and threatened plant species.
The key plant species is Spiny Rice Flower but many other species endemic to the Victorian Volcanic Plains are also represented.
The areas are steadily becoming over-run by exotic weed species such as African Love Grass, Serrated Tussock, Chilean Needle Grass, Artichoke Thistle, African Thistle, Prickly Pear and Boxthorn.
The project aims to establish base levels of key species by GPS mapping of individual plants, while at the same time attacking primary weed threats, and replacement with indigenous species to complement existing natives.
The work will involve herbicide applications, burning to remove biomass, planting of tubestock native plants and some physical weed removal with woody weeds such as Boxthorn and Prickly Pear.
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Native Vegetation |
| Other Themes: | Native Animals, Communities, Climate Change |
| Primary Local Area: | Moorabool, Melton, Wyndham & Greater Geelong |
| Other Local Areas: | – |
| Project location: | The areas involved are all fenced sites, running adjacent to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) standard gauge railway line between Werribee and Little River |
| Scale of the project: | Local |
| New or continuing work: | Continuing/building on previous work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | NatureWest |
| Key partners: | Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Wyndham City Council, Little River Community Landcare Group |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $ (Thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 10+ years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target and contribution to its achievement: | Revegetation Threatened ecological communities enhanced |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Undertake weed or pest herbivore control to maintain and enhance vegetation quality in priority areas |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Priority species – Plains Rice Flower Ecological communities – Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain |
More information
NatureWest President Bruce Boddington – 0407 880 590
