Native Plants & Animals
We are dedicated to supporting the city's native plants and animals. We run a series of programs that protects and enhances populations of all species and their habitats. Community members can assist in achieving this vision by getting involved in a range of programs, grants and subsidies.
What Can I Do? Community Greening Program
Our Community Greening Program works with Hume's community in tree planting activities to restore indigenous plant communities to local reserves and creeks.
For more information visit the Greening Program section of our Get Involved page or down load
To get involved in the Community Greening Program in 2011 call our Greening Officer on 9205 2200.
Join a Friends Group or Environmental Group
Are you interested in giving something back to your local environment and meeting like minded people in your community? Then maybe a Friends Group is for you.
A Friends Group is a group of local volunteers that care for their local environment and actively participate in a range of community environmental activities, such as adopting a local reserve, weed control, tree planting, water quality testing or taking care of a creek. See our Community Directory for a listing of Friends Groups in your local area.
Fauna Sightings
To improve our understanding of local native animal populations Council is keen to record any native animal sightings in Hume. If you make a fauna sighting, please call Council's Natural Heritage Officer on 9205 2200 or email the sighting to faunasightings@hume.vic.gov.au along with the following details:
- your name
- location of the sighting
- time of the sighting
- brief description of what the animal was doing at the time of sighting.
FREE WORKSHOP: Is There a Platypus in my Waterway?
The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA invites you to a series of fun interactive workshops, with guest presenter Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy, to learn more about the secretive life of the platypus.
For more information and how to register, please read Is_there_platypus_in_my_waterway_flier_2012.pdf (430.33 kb)
Fauna Surveying
A number of organisations, including Council, Melbourne Water and the Merri Creek Management Committee, undertake targeted fauna surveys each year and invite community members to participate. Annual surveys are conducted for species such as the Golden Sun Moth and Platypus.
To get involved call our Natural Heritage Officer on 9205 2200.
Drought Monitoring
Drought Monitoring is a Melbourne Water program that aims to monitor the habitat of fauna that live in local creeks, such as Platypus and Growling Grass Frogs, and assess how well their habitat is functioning.
To register for drought monitoring call our Natural Heritage Officer on 9205 2200.
Grants and Subsidies - Rural Areas Plant Donation Scheme
Our Rural Areas Plant Donation Scheme (RAPDS) provides rural landholders in Hume on greater than two hectares of land with a donation of indigenous trees and shrubs to enhance biodiversity and improve the sustainability of rural land. Applications are open from July to August each year.
The 2012 application forms will be available here online in July/August, 2012. Plant distribution for the 2012 application year will take place in early Autumn, 2013.
Caring for our Plains Incentive Program
Council has received funding through the Commonwealth Government Caring for our Country grants program to deliver a three year project (2011-2013) on private land worth close to $300,000. Individual grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders to protect and enhance nationally endangered grasslands and grassy woodlands through weed control and fencing. Expressions of Interest for Round 3 have now closed.
For more information call our Biodiversity Project Officer on 9205 2849.
BushBroker
The BushBroker program, run by the state government, provides landholders with funding to protect and improve the quality of native vegetation on their properties. The funding is in the form of vegetation credits that are created to offset vegetation that was removed in development elsewhere.
Melbourne Water Community Grants
Melbourne Water provides grants to community groups, such as Friends groups and Landcare groups, interested in undertaking environmental restoration projects on public land. Available grants include project grants of up to $20,000 and group support grants up to $1,000.
Melbourne Water Stream Frontage Management Program
The Stream Frontage Management Program run by Melbourne Water is available to rural landholders with creek frontage. Through the program, funding is provided to landholders to purchase plants and materials to revegetate their creek banks.
Sustainable Gardening
Read our Sustainable Gardening fact sheet (265.8 kb) and our Sustainable Gardening booklet (17384.67 kb) to find out how you can create a sustainable garden at your home.
What Council is Doing – Natural Heritage Strategy 2011 – 2015
Council’s Natural Heritage Strategy guides Council’s investment in the protection and enhancement of natural heritage values such as native plants and animals, waterways and geology in Hume. Download a copy of the strategy and action plan to find out what projects and initiatives Council will be running over the coming four years.
Get Informed - Resources
The documents below provide information about maintaining Hume's natural heritage:
For additional information you can visit the websites of organisations that specialise in natural heritage and community greening.
Merri Creek Management Committee
Environmental coordination and management agency for the waterways of the Merri Creek Catchment.
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Victoria's lead government agency for sustainable management.
Melbourne Water
Manage Melbourne's water supply catchments and the health of all waterways in greater Melbourne.
Greening Australia
Organisation that works to protect and restore the health, diversity and productivity of our unique Australian landscapes.
Landcare Victoria
Landcare is a joint effort between the community, government and business to protect and repair our environment.
Victorian Environmental Friends Network
The Network exists to help represent the common interests of all Friends groups in Victoria.
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch is a free, fun and hands-on river education program that supports community members, schools and businesses to be actively involved in monitoring and protecting the health of our rivers and creeks.
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers Australia coordinates volunteers to participate in projects that protect or enhance our environment and heritage.