Working for Victoria crews weeding out threats to Plenty Gorge environment

A popular park in Melbourne’s north has now reopened to the public after recovering from bushfire damage – thanks to a helping hand from Melbourne Water’s Working for Victoria program.

Crews have completed vital weeding works within Plenty Gorge Park supporting Parks Victoria’s efforts to rehabilitate the site damaged by a bushfire in December 2019.

Melbourne Water’s crews focussed on recovery work at the Yellow Gum Recreation area  which spans 63 hectares of fire-affected land - in particular, their work to remove invasive weeds will help protect rare and endangered trees and plants.

Melbourne Water’s Blitz supervisor Tom Wright said it had been an incredibly rewarding project and praised the efforts of the Working for Victoria crews in tough terrain and conditions.

“The dedication to the cause shown by our Waterway Blitz team will ensure this area of Plenty Gorge will again be enjoyed by the community and its habitat restored.

“Parks Victoria have been a great host and partner to work with. The passion and knowledge their rangers have for this part of the world has been a source of inspiration for our crew,” Mr Wright said.

Vanessa Bluett, Parks Victoria’s Team Leader for Plenty Gorge Park, said the work of the Blitz crew had been instrumental to the successful and timely reopening of the Park.

“We thank Melbourne Water for their support so we could reopen all the bushfire affected areas of Plenty Gorge Park to the public.

“Rapid weed growth is an expected response to fire in bushland. So removing these before they spread is important which is exactly what the Working for Victoria crews did so quickly and efficiently.”

”We ask that visitors stick to the trails and avoid rehabilitation areas to assist in the parks recovery,” Ms Bluett said.

Visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au for the latest up-to-date health information and advice. Remember to stay home if you are unwell.

Working for Victoria is a State Government initiative creating jobs for people and businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 situation.

Melbourne Water received funding from the program to create around 100 jobs to assist in its essential work caring for the city’s waterways and land.