Deep Creek biolink

Deep Creek has long sustained and connected our community, feeding our surrounding forests and farms. As the beating heart of our landscape, it instills pride in where we live. Once healthy and flourishing - a place where families gathered beside each summer to swim and picnic - our community’s creek has deteriorated over time and now suffers from erosion and poorer water quality. Many native habitats have been destroyed, leaving threatened species that once were iconic to our region, like Platypus, Koalas, Phascogales and Growling Grass Frogs, with no home.

A new locally initiated and designed initiative, Deep Creek biolink, is a highly collaborative, science-driven project set to bring life back to our creek and your involvement is vital. Led by local Landcare groups (Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network) and ecological experts from Biolinks Alliance, and with funding from Melbourne Water, we have the ecological practices needed for us all to rebuild the creek’s biodiversity, making it and its surrounding lands more resilient and functional now and in the future. Using simple and accessible ecological practices tailored to our local region, we can together rebuild our creek’s biodiversity so it is more resilient to the increasing and ever extreme weather events.

You can play a critical part in this legacy for our community by supporting our efforts to improve the water quality and rebuild habitats around our creek. Not only will our creek be more resilient and thrive, but our local forests and farms will also be healthier.

If you are a landholder in the project area, we would like to work with you to improve the health of the creek and its tributaries where they run through your property.

Upcoming events

Attend our community events to learn more about this initiative and our treasured creek’s ecology, or join us creekside getting your hands earthy. Your involvement, big or small, can help restore our creek for the long-term.

What is “connectivity modelling”?

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Check if your property is within the biolink

Find out if your property resides within the biolink, or its surrounding area by completing the form below. A representative from our team will get back to you within 2 business days.

Just have some questions? Please reach out to us using the form below.

Meet the team

Acknowledgements

This project is in partnership with Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network, Biolinks Alliance, and with funding by Melbourne Water.

Frequently asked questions

What is the aim of the project?

The Deep Creek Biolink Project is a new locally driven effort focused on restoring health to Deep Creek and its surrounding landscape. It brings together community members, landholders, and ecological experts to improve biodiversity, support productive land, and build resilience into the future.

Who is leading the project?

This is a collaboration between local Landcare groups, ecological experts from Biolinks Alliance, and is supported with funding from Melbourne Water. Together, we offer practical ecological knowledge to help landholders and communities regenerate Deep Creek and the land around it.

What has happened to the creek?

Deep Creek has long supported the communities that rely on it for agriculture, cultural connection, and recreation. It has played a central role in the identity of the region and has always been an important part of the local environment.

Once a thriving waterway, characterised by permanent deepwater pools, Deep Creek has been damaged over time. Water flow has been altered, water quality has dropped, and many native plants and animals have lost their habitat connectivity.

Species such as Platypus, Koalas, Phascogales, and Growling Grass Frogs are now much less common than they once were. As biodiversity decreases, the land becomes more vulnerable to drought and floods, and local productivity can suffer as a result.

Who can take part in the project?

If you are a landholder in the project area, we would like to work with you to improve the health of the creek and its tributaries where they run through your property.

We also run events and volunteer days that offer ways for other community members to get involved, learn more, and help restore the creek.

What happens if I join the project as a landholder?

We begin by listening. You can share your goals for your property and the creek, and we will work with you to shape a plan that suits your land and your vision.

The focus is on using simple, regionally proven ecological methods that are practical and effective. Restoring the creek can also support your land with improved shade and shelter, better water for livestock, and healthier soil.

Will I still have full control of my property?

Yes, you remain fully in charge. All work is done in partnership with you, and nothing happens without your agreement. The goal is to support your priorities with ecological tools that help you get there.

Where is the project happening?

The project follows Deep Creek from the Cobaws to North East of Romsey.

It forms part of a broader effort to repair and reconnect waterways that flow all the way from Melbourne to the Murray River near Echuca.

What kind of on-ground work is involved?

The activities depend on the condition of each site. In most cases, this could include:

•     Planting native suitable vegetation to reduce erosion and improve habitat

•     Fencing to protect sensitive areas from livestock

•     Controlling weeds and invasive species

•     Improving water quality through plant-based filtration and erosion control

• Enabling you to participate in citizen science

How long will the project run?

The project is set to continue over the next several years.

What if I don’t want work done on my property?

There is no obligation to participate. If you are unsure or simply want to learn more, we welcome the opportunity to have a conversation. You can decide what feels right for you.