Catchment to Coast exhibition

Catchment to coast exhibition is now open!

Exhibition details:
Dates: Thursday 23 July to Monday 31 August 2026
Opening hours:  9am – 4pm, daily
Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham
Cost: Entry is FREE!

Check out the opening night photos at the bottom of the newsletter.

The Plastic Country | Free film screening

Join us for a FREE screening of The Plastic Country at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Thursday 27 August. 

Presented alongside the Catchment to Coast exhibition, this eye-opening documentary dives into the growing plastic problem and explores what we can all do to help protect our waterways, environment and community. 

Come along, bring a friend, and chat with Council's Environment and Sustainability team before and after the screening. They'll be on hand to answer questions, share local projects and talk all things sustainability.

Watch the film trailer here: The Plastic Country | Official Documentary Trailer. 

Event details 
Date: Thursday 27 August 2026 
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham 
Cost: Free (registrations essential) 

Trees for weeds event | Emerald

Unsure how to manage the weeds on your property? Come along to the next Trees for Weeds swap event in Emerald to learn more.

Cardinia Shire Council is excited to partner with the Friends of Emerald Lake Park to host a Trees for Weeds swap event on Saturday 5 September 2026. 

Residents are encouraged to bring along small clippings of their weeds, and experts will be available to help identify weed species and provide management and treatment tips for your garden and property.

Residents will be able to trade in their weed clippings and take a collection of FREE native tube stock home with them.

Event details 
Date: Saturday 5 September 2026 
Time: 9am - 12pm 
Location: Emerald Library, 400B Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald 
Cost: Free

Story time with a truck driver | Emerald and Pakenham

Join us in the upcoming school holidays for a special Storytime with a waste truck driver! Children will enjoy a story read by a real truck driver and have the chance to sit behind the wheel of a garbage truck. Suitable for children aged 3–8 years, with siblings welcome.

Event details 
Emerald Library: 11am-12pm Monday 28 September
Pakenham Library: 11am-12pm Thursday 1 October
Cost: Free (bookings required)

Photo: Superb lyrebird by Alex Maisey

Sweet sound of success | lyrebird count

On Thursday 9 July, 33 volunteers from Toomuc Landcare participated in the 16th annual Lyrebird survey at RJ Chambers Reserve. This community driven event is the longest continual survey of a species in the shire. 

Three males were heard calling this year which suggests approximately 6 individuals live in the reserve. This is consistent with annual monitoring results and indicates a stable presence of the species within the reserve. Council is actively managing the reserve to improve habitat for the species. 

This long-running community survey demonstrates the critical value of community participation in conservation by providing important data that supports the ongoing protection and management of native species.

Species spotlight | superb lyrebird

This edition we’re spotlighting one of Cardinia Shire’s most remarkable residents, the superb lyrebird!

Found in the lush forests of northern Cardinia Shire, including RJ Chambers Flora and Fauna Reserve in Pakenham Upper, these shy birds are often heard before they are seen. They prefer damp, dense forests with plenty of leaf litter, where they search for insects, spiders and other small creatures.

The superb lyrebird is best known for its incredible ability to mimic sounds. Along with copying the calls of other birds, lyrebirds can imitate unexpected noises such as chainsaws, mobile ringtones and even car alarms. Their songs and displays make them one of Australia’s most extraordinary native birds.

While lyrebird populations have recovered from historic declines, they still face threats from habitat loss and introduced predators such as foxes. 

If you are lucky enough to hear or spot a lyrebird, you can help contribute to local conservation efforts by becoming a citizen scientist. By recording sightings on iNaturalist, you contribute to essential research that supports local wildlife conservation and helps Council prioritise environmental efforts, as outlined in the Cardinia Shire Biolink plan and Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.

Are you a little wildlife explorer? Try iNaturalist's Seek app which is specially designed for our younger budding citizen scientists.

You can also support lyrebirds by planting indigenous vegetation, maintaining healthy forest understorey on your property, keeping cats indoors, and ensuring dogs are under effective control when visiting bushland areas.

So next time you're exploring our local forests, take a moment to listen carefully. You might just hear nature's greatest mimic performing from somewhere among the trees. 

Happy spotting... and listening!

Photos: (top) community planting day, (bottom) southern brown bandicoot on CCTV footage moving into revegetated area.

Connecting landscapes, protecting wildlife | Koo Wee Rup

Cardinia Shire has secured $200,000 through the Victorian Government’s Integrated Water Management Grant Program to deliver significant environmental and landscape connectivity improvements across 12 private properties in the Koo Wee Rup Biolink. The project will include the revegetation of 3,200 metres of drainage lines with more than 21,000 native plants.

These plantings will provide a range of environmental and agricultural benefits, including improving water quality by filtering runoff before it enters local waterways, creating shelterbelts for livestock, and strengthening vital habitat corridors for the southern brown bandicoot, which is known to occur on these properties.

The project is being delivered in partnership with Western Port Catchment Landcare Network, Melbourne Water and the Western Port Biosphere. Holmesglen Tafe are also surveying for bandicoots throughout this area.

To support the creation of these important bandicoot corridors, consider joining Western Port Catchment Landcare at upcoming community planting events. You might even be lucky enough to spot a southern brown bandicoot on the day.

Photo: Helmted honeyeater supplied by Zoos Victoria

Sweet release

In autumn this year, 17 juvenile honeyeaters were released from Healesville Sanctuary into the wild. Eight fluttered off to the newest population in Cardinia (est. 2025) and nine flew off into Yarra Ranges National Park (est. 2021).

Field officers are closely monitoring how the birds are settling into their new wild homes and provide supplementary feeding to assist with the transition. It’s hoped these birds will go on to have their own chicks, further increasing population numbers and genetic diversity. 

Multiple partners and volunteers are working together to save the species from extinction including Cardinia Environment Coalition. Cardinia Shire Council, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Monash University, Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Melbourne Water, City of Casey and Zoos Victoria. Zoos Victoria would like to acknowledge the generous support of the JMS Foundation, Lady Southey AC, Charles Tegner and anonymous supporters who made this project possible.

Partnership delivers strong results for biodiversity

In 2025 Council was successful in securing funding from the Victorian Government’s Peri Urban Weed Management Partnership initiative. The funding is spread over the financial years from 2025-27 and is allocated to delivering targeted weed control along Cardinia Creek. Council is partnering with Bunurong Land Council, Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Melbourne Water and Friends of Cardinia Creek.

Over the last 12 months, the project realised some great outcomes. 128 hectares of weed control was delivered across 9 reserves. Many rare and threatened species were also recorded as a part of the program with special sightings of cobra greenhoods (an orchid species), powerful owls, and broad toothed rat.

The partnership will continue to deliver works along the Cardinia Creek corridors during 2026-27.

More information about the Peri-urban Weed Management Partnership is available on the Victorian Government's website.

How can you help?

With the great work happening to control noxious and environmental weeds in public reserves, we encourage you to join the fight and control weeds on private property, especially when adjoining these beautiful reserves.

Empower your household to live more sustainably

Home energy and water efficiency kits are available to borrow with an adult membership to Myli libraries. Join the library of things and find out how to save money on bills, make your home more comfortable and reduce your impact on climate change.

The animals that built the hills

Every few months the Emerald Museum displays a new selection of items from the museum's collection in the Hills Hub foyer in Emerald. 

The new display features the historical role of working animals in the Dandenong Ranges. Horses were essential for pulling ploughs and harvesters on the small farms as well as for providing transport and carrying loads. Bullock teams were needed to move timber, produce and supplies through rough roads and tracks, steep hills and creeks. 
 
The timber industry was the most important industry of the Dandenong Ranges in the mid to late 19th century. The Emerald Museum has many artefacts of the early timber industry which range from cross-saws and other tools to harnesses for bullock teams. The museum also holds personal stories relating to these bullock teams which were so essential to the timber industry.

Emerald Museum opening times
Wednesday: 10am-3pm
Sunday: 12pm-3pm

Greening Cardinia grants now open

Want to improve biodiversity on your property? The Greening Cardinia grants program offers support to help landowners protect and restore important habitat across Cardinia Shire. 
 
Corridors for Wildlife Grants 
Access FREE indigenous plants to create wildlife corridors, shelterbelts and habitat connections on larger properties. 
 
Successful landowners must be able to plant at least 300 plants on a property larger than 1-hectare.  Grant applications close 5pm Monday, 31 August 2026 
 
Weed Control Grants  
Receive up to $1,000 reimbursement to help manage weeds on properties with high biodiversity value. Applications are open to residents with properties of at least 4000m2.  Applications close Friday 30 April 2027 or when funding runs out. 
 
Whether you're tackling invasive weeds or expanding native vegetation, these grants can help make a difference for local wildlife and threatened species. 

Photo: Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) by HarleyB, iNaturalist

Weed watching | Alligator weed

Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) is a State prohibited weed native to South America.  It is a declared noxious weed in all states and territories because of its potential to cause harm to the economy and environment.

Alligator weed is a particularly hard weed to eradicate because it invades both land and water. In waterways, it can grow from plant fragments dispersed from a parent infestation and produce new infestations downstream.  Infestation mats can cover an extensive area, causing major blockages of waterways that impact on irrigation practices and recreational activities.   

Alligator weed has mostly been found in south-east Melbourne backyards, although a few regional backyard infestations have also been detected. Waterway infestations have also been found in Melbourne and in regional Victoria.

Alligator weed can be mistaken for other species, such as lesser joyweed (Alternanthera denticulata), an Australian native.   

If you have seen this weed, do not attempt to treat or remove it.  Infestations must be reported to Agriculture Victoria (weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au) who will remove and dispose of it at no cost to the landowner.

Photo: Lesser joyweed (Alternanthera denticulata) by Charlie iNaturalist

Photo: European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) by humanbeans iNaturalist

Weed watching | European privet

European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a small tree or shrub which can grow up to 5 metres tall.  It has glossy oblong leaves, white flowers, and produces masses of shiny black berries in winter which are easily spread by birds.

Originally planted as a garden plant, this weed can invade damp bushland, gullies and waterways. It can form dense thickets which shade out and displace native plant species and transform the habitat available to native animals.  The leaves and fruit of this species are also potentially poisonous to livestock and humans, while the pollen may cause irritation to hay fever sufferers.

Small plants can be removed by hand, while larger plants are best tackled by cutting the trunk and painting the exposed timber with a registered herbicide.

As an alternative, consider planting an indigenous species such as Banyalla (Pittosporum bicolor), which has red berries and yellow flowers.

Photo: Banyalla (Pittosporum bicolor) by Reiner Richter  iNaturalist

Soft plastic supermarket drop-offs are back

Soft plastic drop-off is now available at five Woolworths locations across Cardinia Shire, giving residents a simple way to keep these materials out of landfill and out of kerbside recycling bins.

Soft plastics, such as bread bags, chip packets and other scrunchable packaging, are one of the biggest contributors by volume to recycling contamination in Cardinia Shire. When placed in household recycling bins, soft plastics can get caught in sorting equipment and may result in otherwise recyclable materials being sent to landfill. 

Instead, residents can drop off clean and dry soft plastics at participating Woolworths stores in:

• Beaconsfield
• Emerald,
• Officer
• Lakeside Pakenham
• Pakenham Marketplace

Collected soft plastics are being recovered and turned into new products, including durable building materials, park furniture, packaging and more.

Before you drop off your soft plastics:

• Check for the “check locally” label
• Make sure items are clean, dry and empty
• Do the scrunch test: if it stays scrunched, it is usually suitable for soft plastics drop-off

Using the right drop-off point helps protect the quality of kerbside recycling and supports a more reliable soft plastics recycling system.

Cardinia residents reject fourth bin for glass recycling

Cardinia Shire Council is working alongside 39 councils across Victoria in a Glass Advocacy Group to call for a more practical approach to recycling and to pause the rollout of a fourth glass bin, as mandated in the Victorian Kerbside Reforms. The Glass Advocacy Group isn’t opposed to glass recycling, they are opposing being handed an expensive, inflexible mandate without a proper business case being released or the community being consulted.  

 During May 2026 the Glass Advocacy Group ran a statewide survey and found strong opposition to the proposed, purple-lidded glass bin, with 83% of the almost 25,000 respondents against its introduction. At the same time, 91% supported expanding the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to include glass wine and spirit bottles. This demonstrates a clear preference for a different approach within the community.

Recycling drive and drop event a huge sucess

Despite the chilly start, the sun came out for our recent Recycling Drive and Drop event, and so did our community! A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped give hard-to-recycle items a second life. We even had two residents join us on bicycles!

These events make it easy for residents to dispose of items that don't belong in kerbside bins, helping to reduce contamination and recover valuable resources that might otherwise end up in landfill.

In just one day residents recovered;

• 2,002 kg of textiles
• 1,580 kg of cardboard
• 1,020 kg of e-waste
• 203 kg of polystyrene
• 190 kg of soft plastics
• 60 kg of batteries
• 10 kg of vapes

That is over 5 tonnes of material or 19kgs per car (or bike!).

Couldn't attend? There are year-round solutions for these materials across Cardinia Shire including clothing bins or thrift shop donation, e-waste drop stations, supermarket soft plastics collection and local (privately operated) transfer stations (fees apply).

The flow on effect from our Integrated Water Management Plan

From taps to waterways, our Integrated Water Management Plan improved the way water is used and managed across our community, helping create a healthier environment and a more liveable place for everyone.

Ten years after introducing our first Integrated Water Management Plan, we’re proud to have achieved our aspirational water target and 91% of the actions we set. Key initiatives contributing to this success included:

• Installation of 184 water tanks and water-efficient devices across Council facilities
• Leak detection and more efficient water management practices to save water
• Water audits and improved monitoring of water use
• Increased access to recycled water for sporting fields and open spaces

Council has worked closely with partners including Melbourne Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, DEECA and the Victorian Government to deliver major projects and secure funding opportunities.  Working with our partners has supported the Shire to deliver real, on-the-ground improvements such as recycled water projects like the Westernport Irrigation Scheme and water sensitive urban design projects across the shire.

Council is developing a new Integrated Water Management Plan and will seek community feedback as it develops.

Friends of Cardinia Creek

The Friends of Cardinia Creek continue to make a significant impact in protecting and enhancing the environmentally important Cardinia Creek corridor.

Throughout the year, this dedicated volunteer group has been actively caring for the local environment through weed control activities and community clean-up events across the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve. The group has also established an exciting new partnership with Parks Victoria, expanding its efforts to the Cardinia Creek Parklands addition site.

Over the past financial year, the Friends of Cardinia Creek hosted two community clean-up days and a targeted weed control event, removing environmental threats and helping to improve the health of the creek and surrounding bushland.

The group’s passion and commitment continue to attract new volunteers, with 20 new members joining in the last 12 months to support their important work.

As a valued project partner in Council’s Peri-Urban Weed Management Project, the Friends of Cardinia Creek remain at the forefront of efforts to tackle invasive weeds and protect native habitat along the Cardinia Creek corridor. Their ongoing dedication is helping to create a healthier and more resilient environment for future generations.

For more information, including upcoming event, follow Friend of Cardinia Creek on Facebook, or contact details are available on Council’s website