Help Westgate Park replace stolen equipment!
In the early hours of Sunday 1st October, callous thieves broke into our compound at Westgate Park in Port Melbourne. Then tragically, three weeks later our compound was broken into a second time. The thieves were so brazen that they pulled the compound gates off their hinges because they couldn’t break through the chain lock.
They stole our trailer, water tank and hoses (crucial equipment we use to irrigate the park), as well as tools and other items belonging to the Friends of Westgate Park volunteer group.
The loss of this equipment is a devastating blow to the team of volunteers who have spent many hours planting new seedlings throughout the park. Without our trailer and water tank, we don’t have the ability to provide additional water. Without enough water, many of the park’s new seedlings might not survive the expected hot and dry summer.
Unfortunately, Parks Victoria’s insurance does not cover our equipment, so we have no choice but to replace them on our own – that’s why we need your help! As a not-for-profit organization we have some funds to replace the smaller items stolen, but we are seeking support to raise an additional $5,500 to purchase a replacement cage trailer and a heavy-duty wheel lock (to stop any future thieves!).
If you have ever visited Westgate Park or Bili Nursery, are a previous or current volunteer, live locally or even just wish to support the amazing rehabilitation and biodiversity work we do, please chip in a contribution to help us replace our stolen equipment. Any amount – $20, $50, $100, or more – will make a massive difference!
Thank you so much for your support! Please share this with anyone who may also wish to help!
Tangaroa Blue at Westgate Park
On 18 October our friends at Tangaroa Blue visited us to survey and collect litter. Tangaroa Blue is an Australia-wide not for profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, and have visited us a number of times over recent years to survey the Yarra River at Westgate Park.
Volunteers from Westgate Biodiversity, Port Philip EcoCentre and over 80 corporate volunteers from Melbourne-based industries surveyed the river shoreline collecting litter and nurdles. A nurdle is a small plastic pellet used to create virtually anything plastic. Accidental spillage and mishandling means billions of nurdles end up in the ocean creating countless problems within the marine ecosystem.
This event provided the opportunity to explain the problems caused by escaped nurdles and ask industry leaders to ensure they work to stop this happening at source.
Microbats at Westgate Park, 7 Oct
Sorry, this event is now fully booked. Register here for the next!
Join us for an exciting evening of microbat monitoring at Westgate Park BBQ shelter in Port Melbourne, Vic. This in-person event is perfect for nature enthusiasts and curious individuals alike.
Get ready to explore the fascinating world of microbats as we observe and learn about their behavior and habitat by monitoring any presence of microbats using echo location recorders and tablets with the aim of identifying the species present.
Interested in learning more about microbats and their value to ecology? See here for our manual.
September 4 bird survey
Water levels have risen, with the overall species number obviously high from the survey today and the efforts of several other observers reporting on eBird over the last month. We are monitoring Noisy Miner numbers within the park. Numbers are low on today’s count, but any encroachment by this species is a concern.
Some pleasant surprises: for example, the White-necked Heron on the southern chain of ponds; the four Darters, at least two of which were young birds (are we now a darterbase?); the continuing presence of Red-browed Finches and the female Musk Duck; and two cuckoo species, Fan-tailed and Horsfield’s Cuckoos.
Gonocarpus tetragynus – Creeping raspwort
To 30CM. Erect bushy herb covered in flattened, short, white bristly hairs. Loose spikes of tiny pinkish-red flowers Sept – Jan. Small fruit, silvery grey. Full sun, semi-shade.
Eleocharis acuta – Common Spike-sedge
to 90cm. Semi-aquatic herb with erect stems. Slender grass-like leaves. Narrow cylindric spikelet straw-coloured tinged with dark brown Sept-Mar.
Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. pryoriana – Coast Manna Gum
To 15M. Spreading tree with dense crown, rough bark, shedding from upper trunk and branches.
Narrow blue green leaves with weeping habit. Egg to spindle-shaped buds in axillary clusters of 3 creamy flowers Jan-Mar. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects. Round fruit with 3 or 4 projecting valves, disc slightly raised.
Eucalyptus radiata s.l. – Narrow-leaf Peppermint
To 40M. Low branching tree with dense canopy, bark rough and fibrous to the small branches.
Aromatic, thin-textured narrow leaves. Numerous small club-shaped buds in axillary clusters followed by profuse creamy to pale yellow flowers Oct-Jan. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects.
Small cup-shaped fruit, disc level, 3-4 valves.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos – Red Box
To 15M. Slow-growing, small to medium tree sometimes with crooked trunk, compact to spreading blue green crown, rough bark.
Terminal panicles of 7 bluish club-shaped buds, scar present, Sept-Jan. Requires good drainage tolerating poor stony soils, full sun, semi-shade. Profuse flowering produces copious, excellent honey.
Eucalyptus paucifolia – Snow Gum
To 30M. Rounded low branching tree, bark smooth, bark on young branches reddish.
Weeping glaucous young growth becoming thick shiny grey- to olive-green leaves.
Axillary clusters of 11+ club-shaped buds on thick stalks with creamy flowers Dec-Feb. Fruit cup-shaped, shortly stalked, usually 3 valves, disc level. Nectar source for butterflies and other insects.
