The Victorian Government’s Our Catchments, Our Communities program is investing $505,000 to revitalise native vegetation across the Mid‑Dandenong Creek catchment from 2024–2028, and the transformation is already underway!

Working in partnership with Knox, Monash and Greater Dandenong councils, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, DEECA, and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, this ambitious project is driving five targeted initiatives that will reinvigorate the area.

From ecological surveys and large‑scale weed control to revegetation, cultural heritage assessments, stewardship programs and hands‑on community engagement, these actions are boosting biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, cooling local neighbourhoods, and supporting healthier, more connected communities.

Funding breakdown:
$77,000 – Knox City Council: weed control, monitoring, research at Police Paddocks $140,000 – Parks Victoria: weed control, revegetation at Police Paddocks
$125,000 – Greater Dandenong: weed control, revegetation along the creek
$20,000 – Monash City Council: weed control, revegetation
$30,000 – Melbourne Water: coordination of events and activities
$113,446 – Melbourne Water: 4 years of project coordination, data collation & reporting
 Expected outcomes:
267 ha weed control
31 ha revegetation
22 ecological surveys
135 volunteers engaged
2 management plans
1 Cultural Burn Assessment
4 education and engagement event
 
Climate Future Research Plots – the first year In June 2024, five Climate Future Research Plots were established across the municipalities of Greater Dandenong, Knox, and Maroondah, using seed sourced from four different provenances that represent different climatic conditions. This collaborative initiative is designed to investigate how native plant species respond to projected climate conditions, providing valuable insights for building resilient urban landscapes. Each council is actively maintaining the plots including weed control, while Federation University leads the research and monitoring efforts. Over the first year, the plots have progressed well, with some plant losses observed. These plants are being replaced in line with the project’s planned protocol, ensuring consistency across all sites