Protecting Dobsons Creek 

The Salvation Army land in The Basin provides important habitat for many local and rare species such as the Dandenong Freshwater Amphipod. The area is described by Dr Graeme Lorimer in “Sites of Biological Significance in Knox Vol.2”

“The site is known as a feeding site for nomadic species listed as threatened in Victoria (…Little Egrets, Intermediate Egrets, and/or Great Egrets)”. [1]

“The floodplain provides foraging habitat for waterbirds, which congregate there in thousands during times of flood;” [2]

“Even when there is no flood, birds such as pelicans, spoonbills and egrets can often be seen moving along the floodplain and the course of Dandenong Ck further downstream, presumably following an ancestral route between the coast and the floodplain.” [3]

“A substantial population of Crimson Rosellas was apparent during field surveys and a diverse range of small forest birds was present, including the Eastern Spinebill, Grey Fantail, Striated Thornbill, Superb Fairy-wren, White-eared Honeyeater and White-throated Treecreeper. A Southern Boobook owl feather was also found.” [4]

Until 1878 this land was part of an enormous wetland…from The Basin to Mooroolbark/Croydon.

Dobsons Creek, which runs through this land has had some recent sightings of platypus, freshwater crayfish and a lace monitor to name a few, proving that this area is still critical habitat worth protecting.