A bold new plan to create a living network of parks, open spaces, wetlands and waterways to revitalise Melbourne’s south-east region was launched today in Moorabbin.
Living Links is a large-scale landscape renewal program being spearheaded by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA).
“Imagine being able to ride your bike or walk down a path from the Dandenong Ranges all the way to the Bay in a serene urban ecosystem,” PPWCMA chief executive officer, David Buntine said.
Living Links will create a series of habitat and recreational corridors through 855 square kilometres linking open spaces, conservation reserves and fragments of native vegetation from the Dandenong Ranges National Park, near Kilsyth, through the industrial and urban areas around Dandenong, finishing up at Port Phillip Bay near Frankston.
While the master plan is a long-term vision, an immediate works program will start in June to rehabilitate and restore vegetation and improve links between fragments of native vegetation.
Living Links is a partnership with business, industry, all levels of government and the community to develop a unique urban ecosystem in a heavily populated and developed area.
The cities of Kingston and Maroondah, Melbourne Water, South East Water and Bushwalking Victoria have already pledged financial support to Living Links. Landcare Australia Limited, Bicycle Victoria, Parks Victoria, the Gould Group, The First Friends of Dandenong Creek, the cities of Greater Dandenong, Knox, Casey, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges are all involved in the project.
Living Links Program Coordinator, Wade Bland said the project would connect everyone with an interest in enhancing the environmental values of the region.
“The future for the catchment is one of a picturesque chain of parks, open areas, beach tracks, tree-lined roadsides, wetlands and restored rivers and creeks,” Mr Bland said.
“It will become an urban eco-system to compete with the best in the world to live, work and invest in. The key part will be developing the existing Bay to Ranges bike trail into the backbone of a continuous green, north-south corridor,” he said.
Industry will also be invited to contribute, either in cash or via ‘in kind’ services to demonstrate a commitment to improving the health of the local environment by enhancing the intrinsic and economic value of land in the area.
The region is home to almost half of Victoria’s businesses, about a third of Melbourne’s population and Australia’s largest road construction project, Eastlink.
“We have to make sure we match our investment in the environment to support all of this highly valuable commercial expansion,” Mr Buntine said.
“Fortunately, many of the building blocks are there, like Jells Park, Shepherd’s Bush and the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. There’s also Braeside Park, Lysterfield Park and the Seaford-Edithvale wetlands,” he said.
“At the moment they’re relatively isolated from each other. Living Links will connect them up and significantly increase the social, environmental and economic attractiveness of the region,” Mr Buntine said. |