STUDENTS, volunteers and the community can now help protect the environment through hands-on opportunities to monitor the health of waterways and wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park.
Water Minister Harriet Shing last week officially opened the South East Water Discovery Lab at the Pearcedale sanctuary.
The new education centre was made possible through the support of South East Water’s annual community grants program, which has so far provided $230,000 to 50 community groups across Melbourne’s south-east.
The South East Water Discovery Lab provides ongoing water quality testing to preserve the health of Langwarrin Creek, which flows through Moonlit Sanctuary before flowing into Western Port.
Participants will be able to test the water quality of the creek by surveying water bugs (invertebrates), regarded as being nature’s biological indicators, helping identify pollution in waterways and supporting native animals including fish, frogs, rakalis (water rat) and platypus.
The project began with a SEW community grant to the RARES Foundation (Recovery and Restoration of Endangered Species), with an additional money from Moonlit Sanctuary.
SEW liveable water solutions general manager Charlie Littlefair said the project would help to protect and enhance the health and biodiversity of local waterways.
Moonlit Sanctuary’s founder and director, Michal Johnson. said the project created exciting benefits for conservation and the local environment.
“Moonlit Sanctuary is dedicated to saving endangered species, including those that live in our streams. Thanks to South East Water we will be able to test water quality in our local stream and educate people about the importance of healthy waterways to conservation,” he said.
The discovery lab offers a closer look at wildlife living in and around Langwarrin Creek, including new exhibits for the growling grass frog and spotted galaxias fish.
First published in the Mornington News – 6th June 2023
