Michaela Meade
Australia’s platypus population is under threat, and Whittlesea council is doing something about it.
Whittlesea council is taking part in a nation-wide fight to stop the platypus from becoming an endangered species.
The new ‘water quality monitoring in Merri Creek’ project will help to ensure the creek is a healthy and habitable environment for the platypus and other aquatic animals.
Whittlesea council’s stormwater harvesting co-ordinator Edmond Lascaris said the project and a network of sensors in the water would mean real-time reporting can be done.
“This will assist developers to better understand the issue of keeping waterways healthy and enable them to roll out more careful management of construction to minimise run-off into the creek,” Mr Lascaris said.
“It will help us identify the extent of these kinds of issues.
“[Identifying issues] is particularly important for the Whittlesea municipality with our growth area and high level of development.”
The Merri Creek project is a partnership between Whittlesea council, RMIT University and Merri Creek management committee. It is part of the council’s ‘Whittlesea water for all’ strategy formally endorsed at the December council meeting.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the council is reconsidering its use of water and is “uniquely positioned” in terms of water management.
“Our high-growth areas pose many opportunities to adopt innovative and forward-thinking water management at crucial stages of development,” Ms Wilson said.
“This strategy outlines the important step the council will be undertaking around water management for now and in the future.”
The strategy was informed by consultation with experts, agencies, businesses and community organisations, and aims to make Whittlesea council a leader in the management of water by 2030.
The Merri Creek project follows the state government’s announcement of $300,000 to restore key platypus habitat sites and create a long-term action plan. The government also formally listed the platypus population in Victoria as “vulnerable”.
For the Whittlesea water for all strategy: whittlesea.vic.gov.au/waterforall.
