Projects
at Bushy
Park Wetlands
Projects
carried out
by the Friends
of
Bushy Park Wetlands
and other volunteers.
Finished Projects
Apart from regular plant propagation, tree planting and nest box surveys in the park, the Friends of Bushy Park Wetlands have been busy on various other projects.
Information Shelter:
Our first successful
community grant was for an Information Shelter, which we erected
midway along the Dandenong Creek Trail in January 1996. The Friends
write articles and have bird and other posters displayed in the
Information Shelter. We change the content every 2 months, to keep
the display looking fresh and interesting.
Bird
Nesting Boxes:
Our group also received a community
grant for the construction and erection of 12 bird nesting boxes.
The Friends designed the nesting boxes to be suitable
for ducks to nest in. We used the Shepherd Road workshop to cut
the timber & assemble the boxes.
In September 1996 we erected
6 boxes at the northern lake and another 6 at the southern lake
of Bushy Park Wetlands.
Park
Notes and Map of visitor facilities:
Park
Notes is an informative brochure and map with information about
the park, including history, bird observing and visitor facilities.
Two boxes with perspex fronts and weather proof lids were made by
the Friends for the distribution of Park Notes in
June 1997.
To reduce the cost of distribution,
Park Notes are now available online from Parks Victoria under Parks & Rivers.
Trail
Facilities:
Three Bench Seats made by students
at Holmesglen TAFE and three commercial Bicycle Stands were installed
by our group along the Dandenong Creek Trail. To provide shade for
resting visitors of Bushy Park, the Friends planted
Yellow Box and Black Silky Oak trees near the Bench Seats in April
1998.
Indigenous
Garden:
In June 1998 the Friends of
Bushy Park Wetlands, Cubs and other helpers planted about
800 trees, shrubs and grasses to establish a native garden near
the eastern end of Highbury Road. Unfortunately in the following long dry
summer many of the trees died, but most of the grasses survived.
In 2001 we were granted additional money for
mulch. In 2002 we planted more trees, shrubs and grasses.
Bird
Hide:
In 2000 we successfully applied for
a grant from Parks Victoria for a Bird Hide at Bushy Park Wetlands.
Holmesglen TAFE students completed erection of the bird hide in
October 2001. Green Corps volunteers, Camelot Rise Primary School
students, Friends and other helpers finished planting
grasses and wildflowers at the site in November 2001. The Bird Hide
was officially opened in April 2002 and a giant Bird Poster was
also unveiled.
Floating
Bird Pontoon:
A grant of $400 for a Floating
Pontoon for Water Birds in front of the Bird Hide was approved in
2002. Construction began at Shepherd Road Depot in
February 2003. The cypress pine planks have added buoyancy
from 3 plastic pipes sealed full of air. The Pontoon was launched
at the Southern Lake on 15th March 2003 and has proved very popular
with the Pacific Black Ducks and other water birds.
Bat
Nesting Boxes:
A grant for 24 Bat Nesting Boxes and
a Monitoring Program was approved by Parks Victoria. We purchased
ready made Bat Nesting Boxes from Keelbundora
Indigenous Plant Nursery at La Trobe University. To cater for a
variety of Bats, we ordered; 8 boxes with a 12mm entrance slit,
8 boxes with a 15mm entrance slit, 5 boxes with a 18mm entrance
slit and 3 boxes with a 23mm entrance slit - this size to accommodate
the larger White-striped Freetail Bat. Erection
of the boxes commenced in September 2002 and was completed in May
2003.
Land History
Half Finished Project
In 2000, Veronica Langberg started researching the history of Bushy Park Wetlands on the west side of Dandenong Creek from 1st European settlement till today. In 2001 Veronica finished the maps and published a very informative history booklet. We hope another student will soon volunteer to research the history of Bushy Park on the east side of Dandenong Creek.
Future Projects?
Pass on your ideas to Parks Victoria by telephoning (03) 9562 2960.
Updated 4 July 2004