By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
FEDERAL Member for Latrobe Jason Wood visited the site of weed and invasive plant reduction works in the Dandenong Ranges on Friday 12 December.
The project is being managed by Friends of Sassafras Creek (FOSC)working with Parks Victoria and local residents to remove 30 cypress trees and several large sycamore maples from the Sassafras Creek Nature Reserve in Olinda.
The old and dying trees are not only introduced species but pose a serious fire hazard due to their dry timber.
The funding for this project was made possible by the Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants first announced by Jason Wood in June this year.
The aim of the grants is to encourage community groups to work together and in partnership with government agencies to reduce bushfire risk and revegetate the Dandenong Ranges with native plants.
The funding for the Community Grants Scheme includes $4.5 million in funding from the Federal Government that is managed by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA).
Stephen Thuan of PPWCMA said these kinds of projects were so important for the conservation and preservation of our native environment.
“It’s great to see these projects coming together,” he said.
“It’s an important project to remove these major weeds and fire hazards and it will have a lasting impact on our environment.”
Jane Hollands of FOSC said without the grant money this project would not have been possible.
“This wouldn’t have happened without this money,” she said.
“Everybody is relieved this project got off the ground and everyone, including local residents, is relieved these weeds are going.”
The removal of weeds and replanting of native vegetation at the Sassafras Creek Nature Reserve has an expected finish date of June 2016.
