As well as some underwater home renovations, platypus in the Tambo River have been given a little bit more help with some native vegetation being planted along the riverbanks.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) placed a series of instream wood structures in the Tambo River north of Bruthen. These structures will play an essential role in supporting platypus populations by providing food and shelter.
The Natural Resource Management crew from Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) helped students from Swifts Creek Primary School with some planting along the riverbanks at the site where the instream structures have been placed.
Once this vegetation is established, it will complement the instream structures by providing a whole range of benefits. Some of these benefits include reducing sediment runoff into the river improving water quality, and providing habitat for terrestrial animals, food for aquatic animals, providing shade for the water, which helps control water temperature. As this vegetation matures in the long term, it will also offer natural recruitment of instream habitat as it falls into the water.
“This project is a partnership, and it was great to see the kids and GLaWAC work together to achieve a positive environmental outcome but also to see them having so much fun.” Said acting EGCMA CEO Bec Hemming.
Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) conducted water bug surveys before any of the work was done and will repeat these surveys in spring to compare any changes in types and density of bugs. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
