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“Urban Ripple” is a recent Victorian Government water ways restoration project grant. The Bunanyung Landscape Alliance (BLA) in partnership with The Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group (YLCG) are the recipients. The project plan is to restore 13 sites along Ballarat waterways with extensive weed control, then replanting with local species. Each site is managed by one of five local Landcare Groups. Site ecological assessments have been undertaken by Central Highlands Environmental Consultancy. The purpose of the studies was to identify any significant remnant or existing vegetation and to provide advice on how to undertake the restoration over the next two years. Each of the FoCC sites now have an assessment and recommended tree planting lists.
The FoCC has four sites designated for restoration works in 2025 and 2026. These are:
Lal Lal Drain west of Larter St.
Lal Lal drain is a small bare section of City of Ballarat parkland. The Canadian Creek Trail runs through it. Plantings will be mostly shrubs and grasses along the east side of Canadian Creek and the south side of Lal Lal drain. 1000 shrubs and grasses with a smattering of trees to be planted in 2025 and again in 2026.
Canadian Creek
The Canadian Creek plantings are between Canadian Lakes Boulevard and Hocking Avenue. Most of the 1500 plantings for 2025 are shrub and grass infill to create understorey, with a smattering of larger trees at the northern end. A similar planting will happen in 2026.
Lavery Avenue sites (see map below)
Consists of 3 sites with a total of 3000 trees, shrubs and grasses spread across the 3 sites each year.
Site 1: Is in Woowookarung Regional Park and is an extension northward of the plantings from last year.
Site 2: Is along the creek on private land (no public access). This section of creek was infested with pine trees and gorse. The gorse was removed a couple of years ago and now the pines are being removed by a contractor. Restoration of this section means the creek will be weed free and planted out from the top of the catchment near Boundary Rd to the junction with Canadian Creek.
Site 3: Is infill planting along the creek in Sailors Gully Neighbourhood Park.
Soapy’s Dam on Elsworth St East
A large open area on the south side of the dam outlined in red below. 1000 trees and shrubs are to be planted in 2025 and a similar number again in 2026.
Early next year the FoCC will host walk throughs of each site to determine the actual location of the plantings. Anyone wishing to gain more information for the FoCC sites or to volunteer contact foccinfo@gmail.com For more information on the Urban Ripple Program or other sites contact: projectofficer@leighcatchmentgroup.org
January 2025 Update
Soapy’s Dam tree planting and planning
Soapy’s Dam Is one of the four FoCC sites to be replanted in 2025 and 26 with 1500 plants being ordered for the site. On Friday January 24th FoCC committee members and Kate Martin Urban, Ripple Project Manager, inspected the site as the images below show.
Map of Soapy’s Dam
Possible new trails were first identified in the City of Ballarat’s Yarrowee River Master Plan in 2020. The Soapy’s Creek trail already exists and is used regularly. The planting sites are approximate.
Soapy’s dam is named in relation to the “Atlas Soap and Candle Factory” which was located on the corner of Joseph St and Elsworth St where the “Replas” factory is now located. It is believed the dam came into being as result of clay extraction for bricks or tiles.
For more ‘Atlas Soapery’ information see: https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php?title=Kelsall%27s_Soap_Works
The description outlines the story but the location is hazy.