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The Ocean Grove Coastcare Group in conjunction with Bellarine Catchment Network recently completed Stage 2 of the Ocean Grove Governors Place Coastal Alkaline Scrub rehabilitation project. This project funded by the City of Greater Geelong and titled ‘Street to Sand’ has had significant community groups and land manager collaboration. An area that had been overlooked for many years contained high biodiversity values, but was invaded with weeds.

Through this project the weeds were addressed, fuel loads removed from site, slope erosion control undertaken, wildlife corridors and connectivity established and the biodiversity values projected and enhanced.

Weed control at the project site was a major aspect and challenge. Steep, uneven ground proved difficult working alongside Presidents Avenue. A major initiative was the Traffic Control supplied by the City of Greater Geelong to allow access along the road. Barwon Coast COM provided the truck to remove the woody weeds from the site. Importantly not only did this improve the biodiversity, but also Barwon Coast removed 16.5m3 of weed / fuel loads.

A project of this complexity could not have been undertaken without this collaboration. Whilst this has made a significant difference to the biodiversity values of the site, maintenance is the key going forward. In order for the site to reach biodiversity benchmark (EVC Benchmark), the site will require regular maintenance for the next 10 years. Significant weed regeneration occurs after the initial control due to removal of competition and access to light, space and nutrients. Therefore the follow-up is critical to ensure efforts and resources are not lost into the future.

To learn more about the project, read this factsheet.

For more information, contact Matt Crawley, Program Manager at the Bellarine Catchment Network, at matt@bcn.org.au or 0417 231 853, or Margot Busch, President of the Ocean Grove Coastcare Group, at margotbuschy@gmail.com.