Fifty-seven indigenous habitat trees and shrubs planted in the rural verge of Middle Hut Road Doreen, a green wedge dirt road in Nillumbik, have been targeted for removal by Nillumbik Council.

Here, iconic natives Wombat, Kangaroo, and Echidna, elusive Phascogale, and delicate Sugar glider live alongside reptile and amphibian species, and countless insects and microfauna. This is the feeding, nesting, or foraging habitat for over 70 varieties of birds including  Gang Gang cockatoo, Hardhead, Black-Shouldered Kite, and  Wedge Tailed Eagle.

Council’s  own strategies describe the roadside area and nearby land as environmentally significant and describe a ‘biolink corridor’ for animals to move through the landscape from small patches to large scale nature at Yan Yean Reservoir and beyond. But, they spell out the need to care for the land: "Habitat restoration works are required in the short term to maintain and enhance habitat values at this site."

Not having done any revegetation of their own, and even removing habitat logs and stumps, council spray painted the guards with white paint two days before Christmas, and now demand the removal of the cared for plants by 30 April, or they will be removed. The  only justification is a claim that the “General Local Law”, not implemented elsewhere, forbids planting on council land. Self seeded weeds will not be removed.

Sign the petition to ask Nillumbik council to reverse their decision and allow the plants to stay.  

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For a more detailed discussion of how nature strips, especially in rural and peri urban areas can support biodiversity see here: Biodiversity Strategies 

See also https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AM44qhwGZ/

and https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16SHsxf9vS/