This is a Landcare Group that cares for the Campbells Creek Trail and Reserve which runs from Castlemaine to Campbells Creek township, Victoria, Australia.
Friends of Campbells Creek was started in 2000, after a spill of untreated sewage into the waterway brought hundreds of outraged residents to a public meeting. A group was formed to ensure the waterway was better cared for. Since then local volunteers have worked to make the creek and its surrounds a community asset of which we can be proud.
The group’s initial focus has been to protect and improve the environment in the area from the Castlemaine football ground to Campbells Creek township. In recognition of the group’s goals, different government agencies have granted approximately $15,000 per year to help eliminate weeds, re-establish indigenous vegetation, publicise the area and improve access for everyone’s enjoyment, recreation and education.
The group has brought about a remarkable transformation of public land that used to be inaccessible, weed infested, and used for private grazing and rubbish dumping.The area now has a walking and cycling trail through most of it. It is almost totally free of blackberry and gorse, and has wildlife returning as the indigenous plantings mature into good habitat.
The Friends of Campbells Creek welcome new members or anyone who just wants to join in. They assist people wanting help to look after their part of the creek. You can find out more about Friends of Campbells Creek and its regular meetings, activities and working bees — with morning tea or a barbeque — at the group’s site on their Facebook page, or on notices along the creek trail.