The statewide project aims to strengthen connections to local waterways while rehabilitating critical habitats for platypus and other threatened species.
Delivered locally by Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and supported by RiverConnect, Platy Patch is helping raise awareness of the importance of healthy aquatic environments for platypus survival.
Over the past 12 months, RiverConnect has delivered a range of community engagement activities, including a Platy Picnic community event, creative workshops with SAM Club, activities at the Shepparton Festival, and several school education sessions across the Greater Shepparton region.
Goulburn Broken CMA river health projects manager Lincoln Wellington said the Platy Patch project was delivering major improvements along the Goulburn and Broken rivers and Seven Creeks in Shepparton and Mooroopna.
“The Platy Patch project is helping protect platypus … on-ground works are currently underway to improve habitat where platypus live and feed,” he said.
“Revegetation, weed control and installation of in-stream wood habitat are helping bring these river systems back to life to support local platypus populations.”
Greater Shepparton City Council manager of environment Sharon Terry said it was pleasing to see the project delivering meaningful outcomes.
“RiverConnect staff are proud to be working with the community to inspire a love and appreciation of the platypus,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people across the community come together to learn more, and it’s exciting to have these efforts coupled with long-term habitat improvements through the GBCMA to help support our local platypus populations.”
As the project enters its second year, community members are encouraged to stay involved and look out for upcoming activities as part of the Look Out for the Platypus campaign, which invites community members to record platypus sightings via platy-project.acf.org.au.
The Platy Patch project is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the Victorian Government and Melbourne Water.
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