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Forest Creek, Castlemaine
Restoration of the surroundings of Forest Creek is the major project of Castlemaine Landcare Group.
Landcare plantings next to a waterhole in Forest Creek, Happy Valley, May 2007
Forest Creek is a significant part of the Castlemaine urban environment. The Great Dividing Trail runs alongside the creek, from Wheeler Street, behind the tennis courts and through Happy Valley en route to Chewton. The environment along the creek has been seriously damaged over the years, with removal of native vegetation, infestation by weeds, mining, earth works, rubbish dumping and erosion.
Restoration of a healthy environment is a major project that is being undertaken with the assistance of a number of groups, including the North Central Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Mt Alexander Shire Council, Castlemaine Landcare Group, students from Castlemaine Primary School and Castlemaine Secondary College and other community groups and members of the public.
Castlemaine Landcare Group is responsible for the section of Forest Creek between Wheeler Street and Colles Road.
Extensive grooming in March 2005 removed much of the gorse and blackberry. Community planting days in 2003 - 2007 have started the process of restoring some of the native vegetation. Castlemaine Landcare Group holds regular working bees to remove weeds, water and protect the existing plants and prepare for future plantings.
Already, it is very pleasing to see the new plants making a noticeable impact on the appearance of the area. In the long term, we hope that this area will become one of the outstanding natural features of Castlemaine.
