Living Links is a large scale, long-term urban nature program working in partnership to create a web of green spaces across Melbourne’s south-east.
The Living Links partnership was established in 2006, focusing on connecting and enhancing natural spaces, as well as helping people connect with nature in this predominantly urban setting. It achieves this by undertaking habitat restoration, managing key threats (including pest animals and invasive weeds) and supporting community engagement activities that raise awareness of the environmental values of these green spaces.
Living Links is a partnership across the Dandenong Creek Catchment with a Partnerships Coordinator hosted by Melbourne Water. Partners include 10 local councils, government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups that fund and deliver coordinated small and large-scale projects and on-ground works.
This project was originally hosted by the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA. The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA was integrated into Melbourne Water in January 2022 and Melbourne Water is now the host agency.
The Dandenong Catchment is highly urbanised, with around 60 per cent urban land cover. Urban pressure is continuing to increase, with the population predicted to rise from 1.4 to over 1.7 million people in the next 20 years, and an additional 7,000 dwellings required every year. A warmer and drier climate coupled with an increasingly urbanised landscape presents a major challenge to the long-term resilience of the catchment’s terrestrial natural assets - while at the same time increasing the importance of those spaces as a green and cool respite from the urban landscape.
Research shows that improving the connection between urban natural spaces provides a wide range of benefits, including biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, urban cooling and shading, and enhanced human health and wellbeing. It also makes it easier for people to connect with nature as part of their daily lives. The work of Living Links is particularly important because it is a collaboration between councils, government agencies and community groups. It works across municipal boundaries to plan and achieve bigger and better outcomes than if they worked separately.
Melbourne Water coordinates Living Links on behalf of its partners, which include local government, government agencies and community groups.
City of Bayside
City of Casey
City of Greater Dandenong
City of Kingston
City of Knox
City of Maroondah
City of Monash
City of Whitehorse
Frankston City Council
Yarra Ranges Shire Council
South East Water
Parks Victoria
VicRoads
Bushwalking Victoria
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
Homesglen Tafe
Bunurong Land Council
Living Links operates in the Dandenong Catchment, located in Melbourne’s south east. This area extends along the shores of Port Phillip Bay from St Kilda to Frankston and north-east to the foothills of Dandenong Ranges National Park. It is approximately 85,500 hectares and is home to 1.5 million people.
To learn more, visit the Living Links website.