General News
24 June, 2021
Volunteers shaping Terang Wetlands
VOLUNTEERS were busy over the weekend helping the Terang Park and Wetlands Committee further shape the future of the wetlands.
VOLUNTEERS were busy over the weekend helping the Terang Park and Wetlands Committee further shape the future of the wetlands.
The wetlands project is a community developed and maintained area located off Foley Street, with working bee sessions providing an opportunity to undertake general maintenance duties and upgrades.
A small group of volunteers met at the wetlands on Sunday to spread mulch, undertake general weeding and attach new fittings to a water feature which will cascade over rocks to create a waterfall feature and aerate the water.
Terang Park and Wetlands Committee member Sandy Noonan said the working bees had been slowed in recent times due to COVID-19 restrictions but the group was hoping to hold monthly working bees on a Sunday morning to keep momentum going.
“It would be great to get more involvement from families, but even just people on their own,” she said.
“We would love to get more people down here. It helps to meet people, and see the birds and frogs, and we’re looking at having a barbecue to keep volunteers fed.
“Everyone is welcome to lend a hand.
“There are more skill-required jobs but we’ve also got plenty of rake jobs, whether people want to do a little bit or a lot.”
The committee is also closing in on ticking off one of the project’s major items with the installation of a viewing platform overlooking the wetlands from atop the hill along Foley Street.
Ms Noonan said the group had received funding for the viewing platform from a donation. Planning for the viewing platform is now in the final stages of approval.
“We’ve received a generous donation of $5000 from the Masons in Camperdown and we’ve been going through Corangamite Shire and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for approvals,” Ms Noonan said.
“We’ve got it all coming together now and have persevered, so that’s going to be great.
“We’ll possibly have a picnic table up there too, which will hopefully help to drawpeople in.”
Project volunteer Grant Picone, who lives adjacent to the wetlands, said the development of the wetlands has helped to make one of Australia’s most iconic birds a more common sight.
“It’s the first time we’ve had kookaburras since moving here 25 years ago,” he said.
“They have been around for the last 18 months or so.
“I love kookaburras. We’ve got a big gum tree and two or three times a week we wake up to kookaburras laughing.
“I suspect the water at the wetlands is bringing them in because apparently they only live where there is water.”
To lend a hand at upcoming working bee sessions or stay updated with the progression of the wetlands project visit www.facebook.com/terangvictoria.
