2025 marked the third consecutive year of ecological restoration along Darebin Creek in Bundoora through the Greening Whittlesea program
With the support of a Landcare BUPA grant, DCMC was able to double the project’s impact in 2025. Across 11 community events, more than 180 volunteers and 72 students contributed over 600 hours of revegetation, weeding and citizen science activities. A major planting weekend saw 121 volunteers establish 3,000 seedlings at the BUPA extension area near Pasture Place. In total, 4,400 indigenous seedlings were planted along the creek between McLeans Road and Pasture Place last year.
Beyond planting, community members took part in bird monitoring, ecological assessments and environmental education. The Eco Trackers homeschooling group hosted guest speakers on pollinators, bird surveys and waterbugs, while Melbourne Water provided essential maintenance support to help ensure the long-term success of the plantings.
The restoration corridor, which began in 2021, now stretches 6 kilometres – from Norris Bank Reserve through the City of Darebin to Nangak Tamboree at La Trobe University. Vegetation established over the past two years is already maturing rapidly, improving biodiversity and ecological function and laying the foundations for long-term community stewardship.
These before and after images are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when many hands come together.
