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CV19 has highlighted value of Merri Creek as a community asset – however increased use has been costly

Announcement posted by Joe Perri & Asociates 03 Dec 2020

CV19 has highlighted the value of the Merri Creek to the community of northern Melbourne with huge visitation and use by people for exercise and connection with nature said Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC) President Nick Williams in his address at the group’s AGM last week.

 

Commenting further, Nick Williams said, “Unfortunately there have been some negative impacts such as vegetation trampling and increase in the number of tracks.  However, FoMC was working with Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) and Councils to ameliorate these impacts”.

 

“FoMC sees the increased engagement with the Creek, its biodiversity and history as one of the few positives of the pandemic that we would like to capitalise on”.

 

It’s hoped the renewed focus on people’s local parks and trails will lead to increased council and state government investment in them as part of CV19 economic recovery packages.

 

This includes not only physical improvements such as path upgrades and greater amounts of revegetation, but also arts and cultural initiatives that intersect with environmental activities.

 

“CV19 restrictions have put many of FoMC on-ground activities on hold”, added Nick Williams.  “However, Friends adapted programs and found new ways of engaging with members and the public. These included webinars in conjunction with MCMC; virtual tours; socially-distanced bird surveys and litter pickups; and information to facilitate weeding by walkers during exercise activities”.

 

“The popularity, and increased audience reach, of these events has been noted and we will be investigating dual delivery modes for Friends events in 2021 and beyond, as we feel there is a public appetite for greater information on the Creek environment and its history”.

 

Many of these events have been promoted through Facebook and Instagram through a steady stream of information that has helped keep the FoMC community connected during lockdown.

 

FoMC’s committee and its various sub-committees have worked continuously on campaigns, made submissions to government enquiries, highlighted issues to government and improved many of the organisation’s processes and systems.

 

Nick Williams continued, “One of our aims has been to increase the geographic, cultural and social diversity of our membership and activities. Consequently, it’s pleasing to see a greater focus on parts of the creek north of Bell Street such as Moreland’s planning for the Fawkner Merri Parklands which will incorporate recently purchased VicRoads land”.

 

Nature Glenelg Trust’s Mark Bachmann was given special acknowledgement for work on behalf of the Friends informing government agencies and a planning panel of the importance of Hanna and Herne Swamps near Wallan.

 

There is real potential to restore these wetlands so they are valued environmental assets that can help cool the new suburbs being built near the top of the Merri Creek catchment.

 

Nick Williams concluded his address by acknowledging the next generation of Friends members for stepping up to help run the group and for introduction of new and innovative programs and activities.

 

The AGM was also the final event for two of FoMC’s stalwarts Simon D’Alfonso and Ray Radford who were stepping down from the committee.  Simon had been instrumental for the group’s IT and web development activities for nearly two decades.   

 

Ray joined FoMC in 1990 and became Secretary in 1996.  As Secretary his tireless contribution, liaison and administrative activities have been enormous and greatly appreciated.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by:                  Friends of Merri Creek       www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au

 

Media enquiries:                 Mr. Joe Perri,

T: 0412 112 545   

E: jperri@joeperri.com.au