We’re working to improve the health of the Little Yarra River in Yarra Junction, by undertaking weed control and revegetation along the streamside.
Once established, the vegetation will protect the banks of the river and provide habitat for native animals. A new walking trail along the river corridor will also be constructed.
These works follow on from previous waterway restoration projects undertaken on the river upstream, which improved a 7 km section of the river from Gladysdale to the Barrier Creek confluence.
The Little Yarra River supports a range of unique native plants and animals and is recognised as an important drought refuge for several species. Thanks to these unique values, it is considered a priority for investment under the Healthy Waterways Strategy.
Streamside vegetation plays a critical role in the health of waterways by stabilising banks, helping to maintain instream water quality and providing habitat for aquatic and terrestrial animals. Some areas along the Little Yarra have been impacted by historic land use and as a result, there are problems with weeds and a lack of plants that would naturally occur. This project will control the weeds and replant local species that improve the overall health of the Little Yarra River.
This project will restore 2 km of indigenous vegetation along the Little Yarra River from the Barrier Creek down to the rail trail by removing weeds and replanting indigenous plants.
The project will contribute to objectives within the Healthy Waterways Strategy for the Little Yarra and Hoddles Creek sub-catchment.
In addition to creating ecological benefits, the project will also establish a walking trail along the Little Yarra River to improve community access and connection to the Little Yarra River and its surrounds.
In order to improve amenity, community access and connection to the waterway we engaged the local community, businesses and other stakeholders for their views on the proposed construction of a new walking trail to connect to existing trails. We are working closely with Yarra Ranges Council, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria, Department of Transport including other agency partners, to deliver these works in the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area (formerly known as the Yellingbo Conservation Area).
We have also asked for community feedback on the proposed concept designs to understand how the area is used now and what community members would like to see as a part of the trail design. The ideas and feedback shared from the community have been gathered and were used to inform the draft detailed design.
In 2020 we heard from over 170 local community members who shared their ideas about how we can enhance this section of the Little Yarra River. Your feedback was used to inform the detailed design for the construction of the new Little Yarra Trail.
View key features and detailed plans that were developed with careful consideration of what was important to you:
We have been working to enhance the quality and extent of riparian vegetation along the Little Yarra River, by:
Weeds to be removed as a part of this project include climbing and scrambling weeds (e.g. blackberry, honeysuckle and ivy), as well as woody weed species (e.g. willows, holly, elms and sycamore maples).
Local indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted to stabilise river banks and provide habitat for native animals. All revegetation will be carried out in accordance with ministerial directions provided for the Yellingbo Conservation Area.
For enquires about improving Little Yarra River, please contact the project team:
[email protected], or our Customer Service Centre.
Printed copies of the detailed design plans and location map are available upon request.