The Andrews Labor Government is protecting and restoring a former wetland in north-central Victoria, which will help encourage the return of threatened species to the Moolort Plains.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today launched the Murray Family Conservation Reserve at Long Swamp, which will be owned and managed for conservation by Trust for Nature.
The new reserve is a deep freshwater marsh that stretches across 200 hectares of the Moolort Plains, about two hours north west of Melbourne, near Castlemaine.
The reserve is at the heart of the Moolort wetlands complex, which includes 50 wetlands over 1,000 hectares.
Before it was drained in 1965, the Swamp provided habitat for native fauna, including the nationally endangered Australasian Bittern, the nationally vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe, the vulnerable Brolga and the nationally vulnerable Growling Grass Frog.
The purchase of the wetland and restoration of the natural hydrology has been made possible through a combination of private donations, Victorian Government funding and local community support.
The Labor Government is helping advance private land conservation across Victoria, with $1.5 million announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 for Trust For Nature to enable the conservation organisation to continue its work.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“This is an important step in restoring the Moolort Plains wetland chain: the permanent protection of this site will strengthen essential corridors for species movement between patches of habitat, enhancing natural biodiversity.”
“The long-term support for this project has been immense, and its conservation is a great example of what can be achieved when government, not-for-profits and the community come together with a vision to protect one of Victoria’s special places.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020