Threatened platypus prompt huge turnout to save habitat

Wednesday 7 August 2024

With support from Melbourne Water’s Waterwatch Platypus Program and Nillumbik Shire Council volunteer group Friends of the Eltham Platypus is continuing to improve the health of our waterways for the benefit of this Australian icon.

Friends of Platypus planting party on location. — Friends of Platypus planting party.

Group convener Rebecca Kable spent much of her childhood in Mt Beauty along the Kiewa River where her favourite spot was home to a resident platypus.

After moving to Eltham in 2023 and heading for walks along Diamond Creek, Rebecca said she was struck by the volume of rubbish clogging it up.

“I found out that Diamond Creek has the highest entanglement rate for platypus that’s usually from hair ties, fish lines, and rubber bands,” said Rebecca.

Rebecca recruited friends and printed flyers in the hope of organising a volunteer group to remove litter from the creek, to slow and improve the quality of stormwater entering the waterway and start revegetating the creek gully.

Items collected in one day from creek — Items collected in one day from the creek.

It was this grassroots campaign that led to the formation of Friends of the Eltham Platypus which remarkably has been meeting every month since November 2023.

Between 20 to 40 people have turned out to remove the litter and replant native species such as the Prickly Currant Bush, the Native Raspberry, Tall Sedge, and Kidney Weed and month by month help restore the creek to health.

“Some of the volunteers have studied ecology, which is great, but all you need to join a planting party is a love of nature,” said Rebecca said.

“The Waterwatch Platypus Program supports community groups to take action in key habitats, and we are excited to see where our partnership with Friends of the Eltham Platypus will take us,” Waterwatch Coordinator, Naomi Dart said.

Platypuses live in submerged burrows they build in undercut riverbanks and they feed and take refuge in wetlands. Their closest relative is the echidna, whose stout frame and sharp quills contrast with the supple platypus with its beaver-like tail and webbed feet.

“Rebecca has gone out of her way to look at getting grants and assistance from council, state government and Melbourne Water, which manages the flood zone at Birrarung and Diamond Creek,” said Environmental Works Officer George Collins, who assists the volunteers.

“The accessibility and safety of volunteers are also front of mind as we pick sites with pathways, seating, and vehicle access to make events as inclusive as possible.”

“We are proud to support a new generation of volunteers who are working to improve and restore our waterways,” said Mayor of Nillumbik Shire Council, Ben Ramcharan.

“By helping platypus thrive in their community, we help ourselves to thrive in our own.”

Join Rebecca and the Friends of the Eltham Platypus for a tree-planting party at any of these locations: