Projects

We participate in a number of projects in partnership with others in our community and we outline those projects on this page. Watch our newsletter and website for information on activities related to these projects. Please contact us if you would like further information on any of our projects.

Master Plan

We proposed to City of Wodonga the development of a community-led Master Plan that will guide the future of Willow Park into the next 25 years. City of Wodonga accepted this innovative project and the "Community Conversations" project formed the community engagement part of the Master Plan process. We invite you to read more about the outcomes of the conversations in our newsletter of November 2009. You will also find information about the progress of the Master Plan process in our other newsletters.

The outcomes of the Community Conversations project are now being analysed by Julie Hind (President of FOWP) and Matthew Fleet (Landscape Architect with City of Wodonga) to develop a draft Master Plan. You can read the executive summary of Julie's report of the project by clicking here.

The draft Master Plan will go out to our community for their feedback in mid 2010.

We gratefully acknowledge the support and courage of City of Wodonga in this project.

Biodiversity by Design

As noted above, Friends of Willow Park have been working with the City of Wodonga to develop a Master Plan for Willow Park. As part of that proecess the community overwhelmingly stated that they liked Willow Park essentially as it is with its bush-like areas. The community also made it clear that they would like to see these areas enhanced. With that in mind, we successfully made application to the Victorian State Government through the North East Catchment Management Authority for a Second Generation Landcare Grant for funds to produce a landscape design for the Pearce Street entrance to Willow Park that will increase native biodiversity.

A Steering Committee was formed to oversee this project and is comprised of members of Friends of Willow Park and representatives from City of Wodonga and Wodonga TAFE.

We expect to have two draft concept landscape designs by the end of April and will make them available to our community for comment during a Play and Say Day on 1 May 2010 between 10 am and 1 pm.

Gardens for Wildlife

A Gardens for Wildlife project has been a goal of ours for some time. We recognised that the urban landscape is a valid and important area for biodiversity conservation and for minimising the migration of pest species to rural and bush areas. We also recognised that the project would be timely given that many people in Wodonga are renovating gardens in response to drought and many new urban estates are planned for Wodonga that will see people wanting to create a new garden.

We intend for this project to promote urban biodiversity, build links between urban gardens and parks and promote environmentally friendly practices in urban gardens. As such, the project compliments our other activities that we do to promote sustainability and community involvement in parks across Wodonga.

We have received a small grant for this project from the Victorian State Government through the Second Generation Landcare Grants. We have a number of activities planned for the first half of 2010 and we are currently seeking additional funds to extend the project. 

For more information, contact the Gardens for Wildlife Coordinator, Craig, 043 5258 043 or

email:    membership@gardensforwildlife.org.au  

website: http://www.gardensforwildlife.org.au

Biolinks Project

Through a partnership between Parklands Albury Wodonga, Friends of Willow Park and Gardens for Wildlife, the Biolinks Project is focussed on improving 10km along the banks of House Creek , Huon and Castle Creeks from Wodonga Creek to rural lands.

These creeks are an important wildlife corridor between the Murray River and surrounding hills. The Biolinks Project will sustainably manage and improve this corridor by replacing weeds with native plants to provide food and shelter for wildlife along the creek.

House Creek already provides a home for platypus and is visited by Squirrel Gliders. The project aims to improve habitat for these special creatures and for the threatened Azure Kingfisher and Superb Parrot. Many parrots and other birds and possums live along or use House Creek; more native plants will bring butterflies, dragon flies and other insects that will provide food for more birds and creatures.

Funding from the Victorian Government through the Second Generation Landcare Grants provides for 5000 shrubs and trees that schools, community groups, residents and corporate groups have been planting along the banks of House Creek with Parklands Albury Wodonga. There is still more to go.

The Biolinks Project also funds a Coordinator, Jill Dawson. Her role is to foster the development of resident and community groups to adopt their bit of creek and to provide workshops on interesting ecological things. The idea is that small groups doing small achievable bits will add up together to make a whole creek.

Next the plantings will need weed 'mat' and mulch to keep them secure from weeds. Later, grasses and flowers should be added to the plantings to make a more balanced ecosystem to keep the trees healthy.

Jill and the Friends of Willow Park are providing support to groups by providing a trailer of tools, assisting in ways to raise funds and presenting workshops. These will begin in Spring on topics such as attracting nature to your backyard, local native plants and weeds identification and easy gardening. Parklands Albury Wodonga leads working bees on woody weed removal.

We're coming to your area over the next months!

For more information, contact the, Biolinks Project Coordinator, Jill, 0457 834 892 or email: coordination@friendsofwillowpark.org.au