Hamilton’s Grange Burn waterway and its resident Platypus will feature in a new online livestream camera in their natural habitat – Platycam.

Significant waterway works have improved the Grange Burn to a point where it has a healthy population of the Platypus, which is now listed as a vulnerable species in Victoria.

The new project, which includes the livestream camera, will also install additional instream habitat and new bank revegetation works to support one of the world’s most unique animals.

Platycam is believed to be the only livestream camera of platypus in the wild, with most other streamed footage of the notoriously shy animals broadcast showing them in captivity.

The project is being funded through the Victorian Government’s support for Platypus habitat protection and restoration activities announced last year.

‘This funding for improving the health of our rivers and streams is key in supporting the protection of this wonderful species’, Dr Jarod Lyon from the Arthur Rylah Institute, DELWP, said.

‘Platycam is a fantastic initiative that allows people anywhere in the world to see these animals in their natural habitats’ he said

It is hoped images such as this will be captured by Platycam when it begins livestreaming from Hamilton’s Grange Burn in May. IMAGE: Peter Menkhorst

Glenelg Hopkins CMA CEO Adam Bester said the project would highlight not only the local platypus, but also how improving waterways was more than just water flows.

“It’s quite exciting we will have the first Platycam installed on the Grange Burn,” he said.

“The Grange Burn has been a focus of work for the CMA, Southern Grampians Shire Council and Wannon Water in recent years, and the presence of platypus is testament to how important that work has been.”

It is anticipated Platycam will be live by May and viewers will be able to see live footage of the waterway 24hrs a day, with the platypus expected to make appearances at their most active times of dawn and dusk.

The project is part of the Victorian Government’s $250,000 cash injection to carry out restoration works at key habitat sites to ensure the future of the unique mammal.

MEDIA RELEASE: PLATYCAM TO LIVE STREAM GRANGE BURN HABITAT

The Grange Burn in Hamilton will be the site of Platycam

Are you a landholder in the South-west corner of Victoria? If so, you may live within the distribution of the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

The Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Greening Australia are currently looking for landholders to help with the recovery of this species through the revegetation of feeding habitat.

If you own land within the area highlighted on this map below and would like to have patches of Stringybark feeding habitat revegetated on your property, we want to hear from you.

For more information, or to register your interest please contact either Ben Zeeman at the Glenelg Hopkins CMA (0411 311 328, b.zeeman@ghcma.vic.gov au) or Dave Warne at Greening Australia (DWarne@greeningaustralia.org.au).

This project is funded through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program

To learn more about this project and how you can get involved by planting trees, spotting cockatoos, or even nesting holes, visit the project webpage HERE

Parliamentary Secretary Harriet Shing has been in Warrnambool launching two projects – the Rivers of Warrnambool Flagship Project and the Merri Connections Project – which are a significant investment by the Victorian Government in the waterways of south-west Victoria. 

The Rivers of Warrnambool Flagship Project is a $1.02 million investment in the Merri and Hopkins Rivers and Brucknell Creek and will include extensive community involvement in the current, future and ongoing management and development of the waterways to ensure the health of the waterways and the support of the communities and industries around them. 

(Caption: Adam Bester-CEO of Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Harriet Shing MP, Peter Schneider-CEO Of Warrnambool city council and Andrew Jeffers-Managing Director of Wannon Water)

The Merri Connections Project is a $400,000 investment in ensuring Victorians of south-west Victoria can connect with the nature on their doorstep by providing them with access through formal walking paths, seating areas and launching areas for unpowered watercraft like canoes, kayaks and paddle boards.  

Both the projects build on the extensive community and cultural connection and support for the waterways around Warrnambool. 

The launch was held at Platypus Park in Warrnambool at the Bank of the Merri river on Tuesday 15th of February. The launch had a casual attendance of community group representatives. Eastern Maar Elder, Uncle Rob Lowe began the event with welcome to country and smoking ceremony. Joined by the public with local dog walkers, fishermen and kids paddling in their kayaks on the Merri river, it was a great day to be launching these exciting projects.

Harriet Shing and Jarred Obst
Harriet Shing with support partners in the projects includes organisations, businesses and significant community and volunteer support.
Local kids Harry Obst and Murphy Ryan enjoying a paddle after school at platypus park on the Merri River – something which will be made easier with the completion of the Merri Connections project which will install unpowered water craft launching areas.

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority proudly acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Victoria and their rich cultural diversity and intrinsic connection to country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We also recognise and acknowledge the contribution, interest and rights that Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities have in land and water management. We value our partnerships with them, for the health of people and Country.