Wednesday, 18 June 2025

 Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (09:45): Last week I met with Wellington shire mayor Scott Rossetti at Flooding Creek linear reserve in Sale to see where an additional 3 hectares of native trees and grasses will be planted. Whether it is school students, passionate land carers or the local shire, for years locals have been hard at work planting native species, and Flooding Creek is already seeing the benefits. The Allan Labor government is supporting them with more than $280,000 through our Green Links program so volunteers and workers can plant more than 25,000 plants on the 3.3 hectares of what is becoming greener and greener space. We are also building more pedestrian pathways, making this natural area more accessible to locals. Whether those in homes nearby are getting out on their bikes or getting out on their feet, they are able to get out there with their families and friends, and for generations they are going to be able to enjoy this area. Thanks again to land carers from the Maffra & District Landcare Network for their relentless efforts in removing and treating weeds and tackling pest species. Flooding Creek is an area with high biodiversity value on the Thomson River, and this work to restore the wildlife corridor is incredibly valued. As I said, locals getting out of those houses which surround it are going to be able to enjoy that area for generations to come.