Friends of Damper Creek Conservation Reserve
Mount Waverley
Friends of Damper Creek Conservation Reserve Inc.
Damper Creek is an ecological corridor located on Wurrundjeri land in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It is maintained and constantly improved by the City of Monash, and The Friends of Damper Creek Conservation Reserve, a voluntary environmental group which actively helps replant, clean up, weed and care for the bushland.
On 26 September 1968, The Damper Creek Conservation and Development Group was formed following a proposal by the then Waverley Council that Damper Creek be barrel-drained, the land subdivided and roads connected. After much community effort and consultation, that proposal was eventually rejected by Council, and Damper Creek Reserve was created.
The incorporation of The Friends of Damper Creek Reserve followed in 1993. The Friends worked in conjunction with the City of Waverley (now City of Monash) and the then MMBW (now Melbourne Water) to begin a staged restoration of the Damper Creek watercourse. Their combined efforts have helped restore, replant and preserve this bushland reserve for future generations.
In 2020, in recognition of its unique standing as a highly valued bio-diverse area with remnant vegetation, Damper Creek Reserve was designated as a Conservation Reserve by Monash Council. The designation formally recognised the area as a significant example of relatively undisturbed and restored native bushland in Monash.
Today, Damper Creek Conservation Reserve is an abundant habitat for native wildlife, and a peaceful bushland place to visit.
30 years of environmental restoration works at Damper Creek Conservation Reserve
This short video celebrates 30 years of environmental restoration works at Damper Creek Conservation Reserve and shows that community volunteers working in partnership with local government can make a positive change and protect our environment for future generations.
The Friends invite you to volunteer and be a part of this ongoing story.
2024 meetings – (Fourth) Wednesdays 7:30 – 9:00pm at Alvie Hall – All welcome
28 February 2024 – Guest speaker Raymond Gibson, Topic: Possums and Gliders in Victoria – a fauna survey perspective
22 May 2024 – Guest speaker Lina Patel, Flowing Loops project. “Connecting to your local environment”
24 July 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
28 August 2024 – Guest speaker Dr Gary Presland – Topic “A brief history of Kooyong Koot”
27 November 2024 – Guest speaker Krista Mogensen – Ambassador for The Wheen Bee Foundation – Topic: “The importance of bees for food security, biodiversity and ecosystem health” .
Recognition in State Parliaments of
the Friends of Damper Creek Conservation Reserve
From Hansard Tuesday 7 March 2024
Ashwood electorate
Matt FREGON (Ashwood) (14:51): (555) My question is for the Minister for Water in the other place, and I ask the minister: how is the Allan Labor government acting to improve our local environment and habitats for native wildlife in the Ashwood district? We take pride in our local environment, parks, conservation reserves, native bushlands and natural waterways. These natural assets hold so much value to our local residents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank some of the many groups who work tirelessly, some of whom have done so for decades, to improve our district: the Friends of Damper Creek, the Friends of Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve, the Friends of Gardiners Creek Valley and more recently the KooyongKoot Alliance under the leadership of Graham Ross, whose work for our local environment is so important. Importantly we should also thank the many volunteers who turn up time after time to improve our suburbs – people like Dianne Carra, the president of Damper Creek, Helen Clements, the former president, and also Sally Walker at Scotchmans Creek.
Working Bees 2024 – Please note – all held on the last Sunday of the month (Apart from Easter Sunday and September Football Finals weekend). Meet at 10am – 12.30pm. Billy boils at 11am. All welcome.
25 February 2024 (Clean Up Australia Day – meet at the Park Rd carpark for registration).
24 March 2024 (Weeding – meet at Fern Gully just north of Alice Street bridge). Please note that date changed from the last Sunday which is Easter)
28 April 2024 – (Weeding – meet at Fern Gully just north of Alice Street bridge)
26 May 2024 – (Community Planting Day – Meeting place – in Damper Creek Reserve at the end of Swayfield Road Mt Waverley – Free sausage sizzle commences at 11.30am). More information in “Damper Creek Doings” newsletter, May edition, on this site.
30 June 2024 – extra tube stock planting – (Meeting place – in Damper Creek Reserve at the end of Bengal Crescent, Mt Waverley). More information in “Damper Creek Doings” newsletter, June edition, on this site.
28 July 2024 NOTE working bee transferred to assist the National Tree Day – Planet Ark planting event of Friends of Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve. Please check location in Damper Creek Doings newsletter July 2024 on this site. All welcome
25 August 2024
22 September 2024
27 October 2024
24 November 2024 (Free Annual BBQ as a thankyou to members/volunteers – from 12 noon – 3pm approximately – a free bbq lunch will be served from approx. 12.30pm. – meet in the Reserve at the end of Richard Road). BYO chairs, ground mats, aerogard, sun screen, sunhats, cups, plates, utensils.