Merri Creek Management Committee

Acknowledgements

The Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014 is based on a review and revision of the 1999 Merri Creek and Environs Strategy undertaken by Merri Creek Management Committee with input from Councils, State Government Agencies, Friends Groups and the wider community. The 1999 strategy was facilitated by Melbourne Water.

The following organisations and people are acknowledged for their contributions to the preparation of this document:

Merri Creek and Environs Strategy Implementation Subcommittee

Thanks are extended to the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy Implementation Subcommittee a subcommittee of the Merri Creek Management Committee for their input to the revision of the Strategy. The Subcommittees membership over the period of the preparation of the revision included the following organisations and people:

City of Darebin	Adam Shalekoff
City of Hume	Karen Wilson, Rebecca Brown, Anna Zsoldos
City of Moreland	Karin Hartog, Eamonn Fennessy
City of Whittlesea	Felicity Ayres
City of Yarra	Silvana Predebon, Craig McGrath
Mitchell Shire	Mitchell Shire, whilst not formally represented on the Committee has made detailed comments on various drafts of this version of the strategy.
Merri Creek Management Committee	Tony Faithfull, Judy Bush, Luisa Macmillan, Ray Radford, Katrina Roberg

Friends of Merri Creek	Alan Brennan, Allie Dawe, Harold Mackrell, Pascale Pitot, Paul Prentice, Ruth Shiel
Friends of Wallan Creek	John Robinson

Report Production

Research and production of the document was undertaken by Tony Faithfull (Project Officer, Merri Creek Management Committee).

Cover Photo

Merri Creek at Galada Tamboore, looking downstream. Photo by Bryn Roberts.

What is Merri Creek Management Committee?

Merri Creek Management Committee Inc. (MCMC) is an environmental coordination and management agency formed in 1989 to achieve a shared vision for the waterway corridors of the Merri catchment. Its members include all municipalities in the catchment: Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Whittlesea, Yarra and Mitchell, plus the Friends of Merri Creek and new member (as of 2006), the Friends of Wallan Creek. Representatives of these member groups form the Committee of Management that guides MCMCs activities.

MCMCs primary aim is to ensure the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and the ecologically sensitive restoration, development and maintenance of the Merri Creek and tributaries, their corridors and associated ecological communities. It employs specialist and dedicated staff and its programs are funded by Council members, by state and federal grant programs, by competitively won tenders, by grants from philanthropic organisations and through sponsorship.

MCMCs mission

MCMC respects and honours the spirit of the land and its peoples, indigenous plants and animals, and works with the community to preserve, restore and promote the Merri Creek, its catchment and neighbouring region as a vital living system.

MCMC prize winner

MCMC was awarded the 2002 Theiss Services National Riverprize for excellence in waterway management.

Foreword

The Merri Creek Management Committee has been a vibrant, innovative and effective community-based environmental organisation since its formation in 1989.

The implementation of much of the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 1999 has been a great achievement that has benefited the creek and the local communities. Now, having reviewed the challenges that exist for the Merri Creek and identified the current issues, objectives, targets and actions, the committee has produced the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014.

A feature of the new strategy is the way it addresses local priorities and issues whilst also aligning with region-wide priorities. The strategy specifically uses the objectives and targets of the Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy to frame and guide local objectives, targets and actions. The strategy also provides a very strong basis for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of actions and the improvements to the Merri Creek and environs.

On behalf of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, I congratulate the Merri Creek Management Committee and commend the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014. I look forward to the benefits that its implementation will bring for river health, native habitat, native species, ecosystems, water quality, partnerships, social and amenity improvement and community awareness.