Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne

Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne is a free river health education and monitoring program, which aims to increase community understanding, participation and ownership of local river health issues. It involves schools and the community in the assessment and monitoring of water quality in our streams and wetlands. This is done via a number of activities including water testing and water bug identification. Waterways provide enjoyment to people but are also important for the conservation of a great many rare or threatened species, including native fish, frogs, aquatic invertebrates and the platypus, which is responding well to recent improvements in water quality.

Our Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne team provides talks on freshwater ecology to schools and groups, provides free training and events and co-ordinates the volunteer’s monitoring program.

Want to help your rivers and creeks? Become a Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Member

Joining Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne is free and easy to do. By becoming a member of Waterwatch you join a network of people committed to improving and protecting the health of our waterways.Membership entitles you to:·               
  • Information on Waterwatch activities in your local area     
  • Regular updates and newsletters from your local Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Coordinator 
  • Invitations to attend Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne events
  • Information on the health of your local waterways
  • Meet others who are interested in protecting and improving the health of our waterways   
  • Become a Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne monitor, regularly water testing a local waterway. All training and equipment is provided.

How to join

 

To become a member of Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne, its best to follow these steps:

1.     Read the information sheet below or click on the following links for more information:  

www.waterwatchmelbourne.org.au   
www.vic.waterwatch.org.au

2.      Scroll down to read information on Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne training .

3.     Contact the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Coordinator  on 9457 9885 or julia.vanderoord@banyule.vic.gov.au to book into a training session- this is where your volunteer journey with Waterwatch begins. Once you have completed the training you are now eligible to become a Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbournevolunteer.

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Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Training

Interested in learning what's really going on in your local creek, wetlands or river? Can frogs, platypus or even native fish survive in your waterway?

Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne run FREE river health training sessions for teachers, community groups and individuals wishing to help improve their river health monitoring skills by regularly testing the water. You will learn the different sampling techniques, including aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling and identification, how the data you collect is used and how to develop a monitoring plan. Its fun, free and very easy to do!

Please book your place online by clicking on the date you want to complete the training, and emailing the bookings officer stated, at Waterwatch’s online events calendar, located at: http://www.waterwatchmelbourne.org.au/content/activities_and_events/activities_and_events.asp

Date Day Region Training held & Waterwatch Coordinators running the event
February  18th 2012 Saturday

Dandenong/Western PortIn Dandenong
Tiana & Sarah
March 31st 2012 Saturday Werribee
Naomi & Richard
April 14th 2012 Saturday YarraIn Manningham
Julie & Rohan
May 27th 2012 Sunday

North East/Merri Creek
Darebin Parklands, end of Separation Street, Alphington
 Julia & Jane
June 23rd 2012 Saturday Werribee/Maribyrnong
 Richard & Paul
July 18th 2012 Wednesday Dandenong/Western Port In the City of Knox
Tiana & Lisa
August 26th 2012 Sunday Werribee
Naomi & Rohan
October 4th 2012 Thursday Yarra/North East
Old Shire Offices, 60 Beverly Road,Heidelberg(Mel 32 D3)
 Julie & Julia
October 27th 2012 Saturday Western PortIn Mt Martha
Sarah & Lisa
November 16th 2012 Friday Maribyrnong/Merri Creek
Paul & Jane

 

The training dates highlighted in orange are in or close to the Banyule region. Please contact Julia Vanderoord, Banyule Waterwatch Coordinator to book your place Julia.vanderoord@banyule.vic.gov.au, phone 9457 9885

Nineteen years of waterway health information now available online

River, stream and creek water quality information collected by Waterwatch volunteers over the past 19 years is now available to the public following the launch of the new online Waterwatch Victoria Data Management System.

Waterwatch Victoria spokesperson Sarah Greenwood-Smith said the Waterwatch Victoria Data Management System will provide Victorians with easy online access to information about the health of their local waterways.

“Almost 600 volunteers collect regular water quality data from over 1500 monitoring sites across Victoria,” Ms Greenwood-Smith said.

“Through this online system the public can now access data about their local waterway, including historical data for 6,200 sites across Victoria and current data for 1,521 sites.

“The type of information includes physical and chemical data such as dissolved oxygen (essential for aquatic life), salinity, pH levels, phosphorus (can encourage excess growth of plants including algae), turbidity (cloudiness of water) and water temperature.

“The data is used to help waterway managers, such as DSE and catchment management authorities, understand the long term trends in the health of waterways.

“The information can be used to flag a decline in water quality so it may be investigated further.”

Waterwatch is a volunteer community engagement program that helps monitor the health of waterways across the state.“Waterwatch Victoria successfully connects local communities with river health issues and management, empowering residents to take responsibility for monitoring the health of their local waterways,” Ms Greenwood-Smith said.

“Volunteers are key to the success of Waterwatch, putting in countless hours of monitoring, communicating and caring for their local creeks, wetlands and rivers.”

To access the Waterwatch Victoria Data Management System or find out more about becoming a volunteer, visit www.vic.waterwatch.org.au or call the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

A video outlining how the online data management system will work is available at www.youtube.com/DSEVictoria.

The Darebin Froggers

Banjo (Pobblebonk) Frog, Photo taken by Julia Vanderoord

The frog is one of the most iconic and amazing creatures living in our waterways.  In fact, they are labelled by scientists as an "ecological indicator" because their very presence can indicate that a river, creek or wetland is healthy.  Unfortunately the numbers of frogs in our waterways are declining, due to factors impacting their habitat such as reduced water quality and plant life, changes in land use, human activities and more increasingly, climate change. 

Come and join the Darebin Froggers on our regular frog romps at a number of wetlands and on the Creek itself throughout the Darebin Creek Catchment.

 

The Darebin Froggers have been participating in the Melbourne Frog Census in the Darebin Creek catchment for the last 4 years and have discovered many species in the area. We meet for an hour, usually in the evening and in our sessions we cover:

  • How to identify different frogs and go out and find them!
  • Learn about the local populations of frogs,
  • How to participate in the Melbourne Water frog census
  • The ultimate health of our local waterways.

Our outings are appropriate for the whole family! By participating in the Frog Census you will:

  • Help increase our understanding of where frogs are found
  • Learn about our local frogs and how to identify them from their call
  •  Help raise community awareness about the health of their local rivers, creeks and wetlands

Darebin Froggers Events

Frogs are one of the most iconic and amazing creatures living in our waterways.  In fact, scientists label them as an "ecological indicator" because their very presence can indicate that a river, creek or wetland is healthy. Unfortunately the numbers of frogs in our waterways are declining, due to a range of human impacts. Darebin Creek Froggers seek to learn about the fauna living in our area, including frogs, and work towards conserving their habitat. All our events are free of charge but bookings are essential. Darebin Creek Froggers are this year expanding our attention to include other creatures sharing the waterways and the food chain with our froggy friends. We are going to have a native fish identification day, as well as our first ever bird survey.

Bookings required for all events (unless otherwise stated) to: Peter Grenfell on 9499 4454, or pgrenfell@dcmc.org.au.

What Where When Further info
Trial Frog Census Method Explained DCMC Environment Centre at Darebin Parklands, eastern end of Separation St Alphington. Melways 31 C9. To be followed by short walk in the Darebin Parklands. Thursday 10 May, 7-9pm Frog Census method updateRohan Long (Frog Census Project Officer) will be presenting the updated Melbourne Water frog census method, which is currently being trialled. Rohan will focus on lesser-known frogs of urban areas that are starting to make a comeback including Bibrons Toadlet, Smooth Froglet, and the Southern Toadlet. Suitable for new and experienced frog census participants.
Movie night  DCMC Environment Centre at Darebin Parklands, eastern end of Separation St Alphington,  Melways 31 C9. Thursday 12 July, 7–9pm Movie night – Canetoads: The Conquest Bring the family for a film night (PG-rated) to find out about the scourge of Northern Australia, the introduced Canetoad (Bufo marinus). Film length is 85 minutes and will be followed by discussion, and refreshments. See http://www.canetoadstheconquest.com/ for film details.
Native fish ID workshop La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, La Trobe University Bundoora campus, opposite car park 8,  Melways 19 H5. Sunday 19 August, 10am–2pm

Identifying Native fish of the Darebin Creek,

Tim Curmi of Native Fish Australia and Andrew Stocker of Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary will lead a workshop on fish living in the Darebin Catchment. They will discuss how to identify freshwater species and threats including the worst pest offenders.  Fieldwork is included. Lunch will be provided.Numbers limited to 20 participants. Not suitable for young children.
Threatened Species Day bus tour around the Morang Wetlands Bus will pick up and drop off participants from the Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve (parking available outside reserve) at 170 Lakes Blvd, (near Gordons Rd) South Morang, Melways 183 C6. Friday 7 September10am-2pm

Threatened Species Day Bus Tour of the South Morang wetlands.Come and join Waterwatch, Council staff and Parks Victoria on our bus tour. This years focus is on birds - aquatic and birds of prey, in the amazing Morang wetlands that are home to an amazing array of birdlife, many species being rare or threatened. This tour is suitable for adults and older children. There will be short walks on the day. Lunch will be provided.

Bookings essential to Julia 94579885 or Julia.vanderoord@banyule.vic.gov.au
Frogs on Wheels Bike Ride Meet at Norris Bank Reserve covered picnic area at McLeans Road, Bundoora,  Melways 9 G11. From Norris Bank we will ride north along the Darebin Creek to an amazing frog habitat in Thomastown East, then return. Sunday 7 October10am-1pm. Meet at 10am for 10.15 start.

Frogs on Wheels in WhittleseaSuitable for the whole family. Join the Darebin Creek Froggers, Darebin Creek Management Committee and Waterwatch for a bike ride along the Darebin Creek. This easy 10 km ride will stop along the way to look for waterbugs and frogs and test salt, temperature, turbidity and pH levels of the Darebin Creek.

BYO bikes and helmets. Light refreshments to be provided at Norris Bank on return.
Discover the frogs of Laurimar Meet at the Laurimar Community Activity Centre 110 Hazelglen Drive
Doreen (Melway 391 D6)		 Friday 19 October, 7-8.30pm Discover the frogs of Laurimar.

Join Waterwatch for a night of discovery of frogs in the Laurimar Estate. Learn to identify different frog calls and help collect important frog data for the frog census. Learn more about the area’s animal life and see some of its inhabitants up close! There will be some short walking. Families (especially children) very welcome.

Bookins essential.  Contact Julia on 9457 9885 or email Julia.vanderoord@banyule.vic.gov.au 
Bird Survey - twitching on the Darebin Creek “Latrobe Grasslands” North of Northland on the Darebin Creek. Meet at corner of Doughertys Rd and Liberty Parade, Melways 19 E9. Sunday 25 November 8 – 10am.Note early start.

Bird survey - twitching on the Darebin Creek.

Bring your own binoculars, but please don’t bring dogs so as not to scare away birds. Learn how to survey the birdlife in the riparian zone. An expert from La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary will run through survey method and help with identification of more difficult bird species. Numbers are limited.

Please click here to join our email list to be kept up to date of events as they are organised

For more information on the Melbourne Water Frog census, visit: http://frogs.melbournewater.com.au/

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Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Newsletter

Click on the link below to download Northern Waters - the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne newsletter of the north east waterways of Melbourne.

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Teacher PD Sessions and Education Kits

Please click here for information on upcoming professional development Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne worskshops and education kits.

Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Water Quality Reports

Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne collects, studies and interprets water quality data collected by Waterwatch volunteers. Some brief summaries are provided by clicking on thelink below. For further reports and data in the Banyule area please contact Banyule’s Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Melbourne Coordinator on 9457 9885 or Julia.vanderoord@banyule.vic.gov.au .

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Further Information

www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/index.php (Waterwatch Victoria website)

 

www.waterwatchmelbourne.org.au (Melbourne Water’s Waterwatch Education website)

 

www.platypus.asn.au/ (The Australian Platypus Conservancy)

 

frogs.org.au/frogs/state_frogs.php?state_key=64 (Victorian Frog Group)

 

frogs.melbournewater.com.au (Melbourne Water frog census)

 

www.freshwater.net.au  (Community portal information hub)

Related Links