More than 2700 hectares of land in Melbourne’s north is set to be handed back to traditional owners for the development of the marram baba Merri Creek Regional Parklands.
The parklands are expected to stretch from Campbellfield to Beveridge along 34 kilometres of Upper Merri Creek, with 2778 hectares of public and private land traversing the Hume and Whittlesea municipalities to be handed back to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung community.
The project is expected to be completed in 2050, marking the largest return to Aboriginal custodianship in greater Melbourne.
The project most recently completed ecological restoration works at the Galada Tamboore reserve in Campbellfield, with the next stage to be a final future directions plan, due to be completed late this year.
City of Whittlesea administrators endorsed the marram baba Merri Creek Future Directions Plan at its November 21 meeting, and chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the project was a positive step forward for the communities involved.
“The City of Whittlesea was delighted to endorse the marram baba Merri Creek Future Directions Plan,” she said.
“This includes planning for connected open space that communities can enjoy, and enhanced biodiversity and habitat protection of local wildlife.”
The plan was developed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, DEECA, and traditional owners over four years – a process that included multiple stakeholders and two rounds of community consultation.
Groups involved include the City of Whittlesea, Hume City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, the Merri Creek Management Committee, and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, WWCHAC, the latter of which will be responsible for land management when the project concludes.
To create a broader regional open space network, the parklands will also connect existing City of Whittlesea parklands including the Whittlesea Public Gardens in Thomastown and the conservation land on Cooper Street.
“The co-managed parklands include some existing park land owned by council along the Merri Creek corridor,” Ms Wilson said.
“They also include provision for new open space in growth areas which will be added to the regional park when new subdivisions are approved.”
Merri Creek Management Committee member and Upper Merri Landcare facilitator Chris Cobern said there were many advantages to the marram baba project.
“The marram baba Merri Creek Regional Parklands will be a great recreational resource for our growing community in the Upper Merri Creek catchment, creating valuable open spaces with walking and cycling trails,” he said.
“It will provide opportunities for local landcarers as a group and with their families to undertake nature study, photography and just to explore and enjoy the natural features and wildlife that the area supports.”
Mr Cobern said there would also be significant benefits for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung community, with which he anticipated a strong relationship with Landcare volunteers.
“The park will support Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung cultural heritage, and significantly the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung’s Narrap Team is going to be managing sites in the Upper Merri Creek,” he said.
“I believe that this is a very welcome recognition of traditional owners as custodians of the parklands country.
“It would be great for local landcarers to be able work with and learn from the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung’s Narrap Team about the ways they manage grasslands and grassy woodlands.”
The Review contacted Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the State Government for a comment, but both failed to respond before deadline.
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