$1.6m of Platy Patch projects begin locally
$1.6million of works to support, create and protect platypus habitat are now underway on, in and around the Merri and Hopkins Rivers in Warrnambool.
The projects are part of the statewide Platy Patch project and will be delivered by Glenelg Hopkins CMA and project partners at four sites around Warrnambool.
A total of almost $1,652,000 will be invested in the projects locally, with funding from both the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program and Victorian Government through the Rivers of Warrnambool Flagship Waterways Project.
The landmark $24 million Platy Patch project, jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Victorian Government and One Tree Planted, will work to improve critical habitat at 14 sites across Victoria over the next four years under the guidance of Victoria’s leading ecological research centre, the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI).
Catchment Management Authorities, Melbourne Water, Coliban Water, One Tree Planted, Zoos Victoria, the Australian Platypus Conservancy, various local governments, Parks Victoria, Landcare and DEECA will work together with ARI on the restorative project.
Jubilee Park works create Platy Playground
Platypus playground and habitat pieces placed in the Merri
Warrnambool’s platypus have their own playground alongside Jubilee Park on the Merri River with 15 new habitat pieces installed this week.
The project removed aged cypress trees – some of which had already naturally fallen in storm conditions – from banks and placed pieces of timber into the waterway for platypus to forage around for food, and should they be inclined, play on and around.
In coming months, revegetation of the banks with native species will occur.
The Jubilee Park works were undertaken in partnership with Warrnambool City Council and funded through the Platy Patch project.





