MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has unveiled a new “vision” for The Briars historic property at Mount Martha.
The “largest environmental asset” on the peninsula has a wildlife sanctuary, picnic lawns, heritage homestead, native nursery, eco-living centre, astronomy centre, restaurant, cafe and farmland.
Now, a new master plan is aiming to protect The Briars by enhancing green spaces and conservation efforts and improving the way it connects visitors to the natural, cultural and heritage beauty of the region.
Under the plan, the Ark Program will reintroduce indigenous endangered and extinct flora and fauna after consulting with experts and based on the species’ predicted survival rate, the urgency to save it, and the positive impact on The Briars ecosystem.
The first species to be re-introduced is likely to be the Mount Martha Bundy (Eucalyptus carolaniae) of which only about 400 can be found in small pockets at Mt Martha. The nursery at the Briars, with advice from the Royal Botanic Gardens, is growing an extra 300 of these critically endangered plants to double the wild population.
“The shire’s natural systems team have been doing some great work to ‘possum-band’ trees and increase community awareness about the Mount Martha Bundy and other native species to help ensure they’re around for hundreds of years to come,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said.
Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/briars-masterplan
First published in the Mornington News – 7 July 2020
