Shepparton’s platypus population is set to prosper, with habitat improvement works to be implemented across several local waterways.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s Riparian and River Channel Manager, Carolyn Nigro, said sections of the Goulburn River, Broken River and Seven Creeks around the urban fringe of Shepparton will be rehabilitated for the iconic native species.
The work forms part of the landmark $24 million ‘Platy Patch Project’, a four-year, statewide initiative receiving significant co-funding from the Australian Government, Victorian Government and Melbourne Water.
“Platy Patch is a new, major statewide waterway protection and restoration project aimed at improving streambank and aquatic habitats critical for platypus and threatened species,” Ms Nigro said.
“Goulburn Broken CMA will undertake works here as part of improvements taking place at 14 sites across Victoria under the guidance of the Arthur Rylah Institute, Victoria’s leading ecological research centre.
“The proposed sites within Shepparton’s urban fringe include sections of the Goulburn River, Broken River and Seven Creeks.”
Platypus are mainly active at night, dusk and dawn. They need reliable surface water and flows, stable banks to burrow, intact streamside vegetation, instream woody habitat and sufficient insects and water bugs to eat.
Platypus are considered vulnerable in Victoria, with evidence of a population decline across the state.
Monitoring has indicated there are low numbers of platypus in the Goulburn River in Shepparton and that they are likely to use local tributaries including the Seven Creeks and Broken River.
“Urbanisation and flooding have impacted the cover and diversity of vegetation and instream habitat in these waterways, reducing platypus habitat and potentially threatening the local population,” Ms Nigro said.
“On-ground project works will address these threats to platypus by removing weeds along the Broken River, revegetating streamside areas on the Seven Creeks and increasing instream woody habitat in the Goulburn River.
“The aim is that these combined actions will improve local platypus numbers over time.”
Important native fish including Murray Cod, Silver Perch and Trout Cod are also expected to benefit from these actions.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Victorian Government, and Melbourne Water, under the guidance of the Arthur Rylah Institute, with the support of One Tree Planted, Ballarat City Council, Coliban Water, Zoos Victoria, and catchment management authorities.
Goulburn Broken CMA will also partner with RiverConnect, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria and the Goulburn Murray Landcare Network.
Shepparton’s platypus population is hoped to increase from improvements to waterways. Photo: Kathy Jones.