Aitken Creek, Craigieburn - once surrounded by dense tussock
grasslands and ancient red gums and was teeming with wildlife.
It may have looked like this prior to European Settlement.
Actual photo: Malcolm Creek, Craigieburn

Uncover a landscape where the grasses lining smaller creeklines like the Aitken and Malcolm Creek were more valued for the number of cows they could raise than the number of families of Brown Quail.

Uncover small creeklines where willows and weeds were encouraged to grow, crowding out the rushes and tussock grasses.

Uncover creeklines that were turned into drains to take the waste from our streets to the bay.

What does it take to recover the life of small creeklines?

The vision and passion of the community and the cooperation of residents, councils, governments and utilities.

Recovery, especially to restore Creekline Grassy Woodlands has needed the removal of grazing and mowing.

Protection from additional disturbance is also vital.

Parks, planting and paths were planned so people can recover the pleasure of listening to a a trickling stream and a frog chorus.

We recover respect for the landscape and for ourselves as custodians of a landscape where the life of small creeks flow with the seasons.

We discover that ongoing work is needed to ensure restored landscapes along the smaller creeks continue to grow and thrive in a changing world.

We discover that the litter in the creek comes from the streets and the drains.

By keeping our streets clean, we help keep the creeks clean.

We discover that we can help nature by keeping to paths and respecting wildlife in its habitat.

We discover that wildlife will return to the re-created landscapes. When we slow down, we discover that we are a part of this restoration of nature.