Wetlands were once common throughout the Merri Creek catchment and offered habitat
for scores of fish, insects, birds, lizards and frogs. Some of them may have looked like this.
Actual photo: Hall Reserve wetland, Clifton Hill

Uncover a landscape where wetlands were drained to make more grazing land.

Uncover the inner-urban wetlands that were used to dump rubbish and then were drained as health hazards.

Uncover wetlands where changes to the surrounding landscapes starved them of water. Where weeds were encouraged to grow, crowding out the rushes and water plants.

What has it taken to Recover the wetlands of Merri Creek?

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

Recovering wetlands often means capturing water from stormwater drains. In a wetland, the water can be cleaned by the actions of plants, fungi and good bacteria.

People like you have planted thousands of water plants as a part of wetland restoration. Their reward has been to recover a sparkling, lifefilled wetland.

We recover respect for the landscape and for ourselves as custodians of a landscape where wetlands thrive.

We discover that ongoing work is needed to ensure the restored wetlands remain healthy and free of choking weeds.

We discover that the litter in the creek comes from the streets and the drains. By keeping our streets clean, we help keep the restored wetlands 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 wetlands created. When we slow down, we discover that we are a part of this restoration of nature.