“(Platy Patch) is aimed at improving streambank and aquatic habitats critical for platypus and threatened species,” Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority riparian and river channel manager Carolyn Nigro said.
The project — funded by the federal and Victorian governments and Melbourne Water — spans four years and encompasses multiple sites throughout Victoria.
In Shepparton, the focus will be on sections of the Goulburn River, the Broken River and Seven Creeks.
“Urbanisation and flooding have impacted the cover and diversity of vegetation and instream habitat in these waterways, reducing platypus habitat and potentially threatening the local population,” Ms Nigro said.
Recent monitoring has shown low platypus numbers in the Goulburn River, raising concerns about their dependence on local tributaries for suitable habitat.
The proposed improvements involve removing invasive weeds along the Broken River, re-establishing native vegetation along the banks of Seven Creeks and increasing the amount of instream woody habitat in the Goulburn River.
“On-ground project works will address these threats to platypus,” Ms Nigro said.
“The aim is that these combined actions will improve local platypus numbers over time.”
In addition to benefiting the platypus, the project is expected to support important native fish species, including Murray cod, silver perch and trout cod.
Platy Patch Project is guided by the Arthur Rylah Institute. Goulburn Broken CMA will work alongside RiverConnect, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria and the Goulburn Murray Landcare Network to implement the changes.
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