Protecting wildlife and native vegetation in Colley Street Reserve

There has recently been a large amount of unauthorised clearing of native vegetation in Colley Street Reserve, resulting in the loss of habitat and food for many native animals. This clearing has included tree and bush branches being sawn off, and ground layer plants and grasses being raked away to expose bare soil. This clearing is resulting in the loss of habitat and food for many native animals, and erosion issues of excess sedimentation (mud) ending up in local creeks and waterways.

The most recent clearing event occurred close to another illegally cleared area. If this continues then they will soon join to form a large, unvegetated, bare-earth space.

The reserve is home to possums, blue-tongued lizards and many bird species, and it provides food for birds like rosellas and cockatoos moving through the area. The endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot is protected under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and historically has been found in the area.

It is illegal to cut native plants in the reserve because the reserve is home to native wildlife and because all native vegetation is protected under the City of Casey Local Law 2018. The City of Casey is responsible for its management and protection, and significant fines apply for removing and/or damaging native vegetation.

Council respectfully asks that all users of the Colley Street Reserve stop clearing native vegetation in the reserve and report any such activity to Council by contacting customer service.

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