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September 2025
September is Biodiversity Month - a time to honour the richness of our natural world and the variety of life it supports.
The City of Casey will be hosting and supporting a range of events and activities throughout the month, offering residents opportunities to deepen their understanding of the local environment. Explore what’s on below and connect with Casey’s natural world this Biodiversity Month.
Flora and Fauna spotlight - Red-fruited Saw-sedge (Gahnia sieberiana)
This strappy tussock growing plant is an essential food source for the caterpillar of the Sword-grass Brown Butterfly.
Handle with care! The rough edges on the leaves can act like a saw and cause injury. This is where it gets its name – Saw-sedge.
The red seeds that develop on tall flower spikes from October – January are edible and were used as a bush tucker food.
📷 Gahnia plant and seeds - S. Burford (Inset: Swordgrass Brown Butterfly - R. Simao)
Rooting for a Winner: Cast Your Vote for Victoria’s Tree of the Year
Tree of the Year shortlist and public voting will open at 9:00 AM on Tuesday 23 September 2025.
The Tree of the Year contest isn’t just about the oldest, the thickest, or the most beautiful tree. It celebrates the vital role trees play in enriching our lives; supporting biodiversity and wildlife, providing shade, oxygen, and cleaner air, boosting mental health and wellbeing and trees that hold stories, memories, and deep cultural significance.
Significant dates for Biodiversity
National Wattle Day - Monday 1 September
National Threatened Species Day - Sunday 7 September
📷 Blackwood Wattle - S. Charles
📷 Southern Brown Bandicoot - R. Simao
Biodiversity Blitz 2025
During September City of Casey celebrates Biodiversity Month. We will be partnering with other south-east Melbourne councils to hold the annual Biodiversity Blitz 2025!
Participating is easy! Your observations will automatically be added to the project from 1st - 30th September.
By recording the distribution and abundance of species in Casey, you will be providing valuable scientific data.
📷 a Lesser Grass Blue on Milky Beauty-head flower - S. Charles
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Nature journaling is a mindful practice that combines drawing and writing to deepen your connection with the natural world. By observing and recording details in nature, you’ll sharpen your ability to identify species, understand their habitats, and appreciate the intricacies of ecosystems.
Over time, this practice enhances your skills in observation, illustration, and storytelling. More than just a creative outlet, nature journaling invites quiet reflection and offers a calming escape - supporting mental wellbeing through time spent in nature.
Join us for a workshop!
Book early as places are limited.
Myuna Farm's Threatened Species Event
Join us for a walk, talk and bake this National Threatened Species Day!
- Train ride to the wetlands to meet the threatened Grey-Headed Flying Fox’s
- Cake decorating for the Threatened Species Bake Off
- Discover threatened species in the local area
BYO cake or cupcake, to be decorated at the farm (and taken home to be eaten). Please advise us of any allergy concerns prior to the event.
Thursday 11 September 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Registrations are essential - $2.00 entry on the day.
Mysterious Mushrooms Mushrooms play a vital role in our environment, and we’re inviting curious minds to come explore why! In this hands-on workshop, kids will dive into the amazing world of fungi. Get creative and craft your own mini mushroom garden using air-dry clay. Ages 5-12 years. Thursday 25 September 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM @ Old Cheese Factory, Berwick. 
📷 S. Charles |
Doveton Show turns twenty! 🎉Casey’s Sustainability and Waste Department is excited to be part of the celebrations once again. Drop by for fun, family-friendly activities and pick up your Eco Passport. Discover fascinating facts about the Grey-headed Flying Fox, meet our passionate Gardens for Wildlife volunteers, and don’t forget to take home a free plant to grow your own little piece of nature. Experience sitting in a real recycling truck, enjoy fun recycling activities and learn what you can do to reduce your waste at home. Join us for a day of discovery, action, and green fun! Sunday 21 September |
Come along and meet Shazza and Razza our local resident Southern Brown Bandicoots!
Presented by award-winning theatre group Born in a Taxi, this fun and interactive show blends music, comedy, and education to spotlight these unique marsupials and how we can protect them.
After the show, visit the Bandicoot Activity Hub and chat with Eilish, Cranbourne Botanic Garden's Bandicoot Outreach Officer, to learn more.
Tuesday 30 September, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM @ Cranbourne West Community Hub
Helmeted Honeyeater Release
It has now been three months since the release of 21 Helmeted Honeyeaters along the Cardinia Creek.
Zoos Victoria staff are keeping a close eye on the birds and have recorded at least 12 on site. This is a fantastic result.
Feral cats and foxes have been seen visiting the area and Zoos staff have been quick to act. One feral cat has been caught however the foxes are more cunning and have so far evaded capture.
All supplementary feeding stations have been found and are being used by the birds.
With breeding season approaching the birds will be pairing off and starting to defend breeding territories and constructing nests. This female was photographed with nesting material in her beak - a very promising sign and start to the breeding season!
If you would like to know more about this amazing little bird and the captive breeding program - save the date for an information session on Thursday 9 October. More information in next month’s GL news.
Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve
Connected to the mainland at low tide, Quail Island sits off the Casey shoreline from Warneet. Recently several of our staff visited this wildlife inhabited island.
Surrounded by mangroves the only way to explore the island is on foot.
A population of Southern Brown Bandicoots call the island home along with shore and bush bird species.
Weeding Out the Problem: Two More Years of Support
In June, the City of Casey saw the end of a 3-year Peri-urban Weed Management Partnership (PWMP) which provided funding to manage 28ha of native bush at the Warneet Natural Features Reserve. This collaborative initiative was between state and local governments, public land managers, Traditional Owners and the community.
Situated at the entry to the Warneet Township, the Parks Victoria reserve borders the Rutherford Inlet Ramsar site and contains an incredible diversity of native flora and fauna. The reserve was under threat from a number of introduced weed species, including Sallow Wattle and Bluebell Creeper. Funding allowed the City of Casey, Parks Victoria and contractors, including Bunurong Ranger teams, to treat and remove these weeds. Without management these weed species take over. Outcompeting and smothering native vegetation which alters the habitat for native fauna.
In July, City of Casey and its project partner, Parks Victoria, were successful in obtaining two more years of funding under the PWMP. This funding will:
- focus on the protection of our sensitive mangrove ecosystems and bushland habitats, and
- reduce the impact of invasive weeds within the Warneet Natural Features Reserve, Blind Bight Bushland Reserve, Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve and Chinaman Island.
Have your say on the Reimagining Eumemmerring Creek project
Almost two kilometres of the creek: from Doveton Avenue, Doveton to the end of Lace Street, Eumemmerring is looking to be transformed back into a natural waterway.
Melbourne Water are seeking feedback on what you love about the creek, your ideas for improvement and any issues. Feedback will be used in developing an initial concept design for the creek's transformation.
Community consultation is open until 14 September.
For many years environmental volunteers have been selflessly giving their time on behalf of Casey’s natural environment.
Come and join other passionate volunteers across a range of locations within Casey. Some benefits of volunteering include:
- making connections
- you can make a difference
- it is good for your physical and mental health
- learning about our natural environment and biodiversity
Friends of Eumemmerring
Come join the Friends of Eumemmerring who will be having a working bee on Saturday 6 September. Melbourne Water will also be on site to talk about the Reimagining Eumemmerring Creek project. Please refer to their Facebook page for details.
Friends of Cardinia
Friends of Cardinia will be meeting on Sunday 7 September for a clean-up day along the Cardinia creek in Beaconsfield – check out their Facebook page for further details and updates.
Cannons Creek Residents Association
Cannons creek Residents Association will have their monthly catch up on Sunday 7 September - bring along some morning tea and your gloves and help keep the foreshore looking beautiful. The group meet at the top car park at the Bluff.
Casey Gardens for Wildlife
Why not join our team of passionate garden guides? You will help others create a space in their garden that will attract and support local wildlife.
Volunteering as a garden guide is a rewarding and fulfilling way to get involved in our community while building habitat and biodiversity connections for our wildlife.
Bin Lid Swap Over - REMINDER
Monday 11 August until Friday 12 December, Council will be swapping your rubbish and recycling bin lids – red for garbage and yellow for recycling.
The change is easy! Each week on your regular recycling bin collection day, place your rubbish and recycling bins on your nature strip and leave it out until 5:00 PM. Our contractor will then swap your lid over.
There are more than a quarter of a million bins in Casey, so it’s going to take time. Please be patient during this period. We will get around to your bin as soon as we can, so keep an eye out for our crew.
Sign up to receive Casey's Grants Update e-Newsletter
Connecting Communities Living Lab (City of Casey)
Through the Connecting Communities Living Lab, Council aims to support projects that successfully develop, implement, and evaluate innovative solutions that foster social connection and reduce loneliness, generating measurable benefits for individuals, families, and communities and contributing to a more socially cohesive Casey.
Businesses, not-for-profit organisations and research institutions can apply now.
Amount: Various amounts depending on project
Closes: 30 September 2025
Community Support Initiative (CSI) Grant (First Brick Real Estate)
This program supports local projects that address critical needs, enhance neighbourhood well-being, and stimulate economic opportunities.
Closes: 31 October 2025
Sprout Grants (Hamer Sprout Fund)
This annual grant supports smaller organisations and projects that:
- promote innovation in environmental education
- grow engagement in environmental action
- advocate for environmental sustainability
- foster collaboration between young people engaged in environmental leadership
Closes: 30 September 2025
Community Grants (NAB Foundation)
This grant supports community-led projects focussed on readiness or recovery from natural disasters, or futureproofing to reduce the risk of future disasters.
Closes: 30 September 2025
Project Planning and Ideas Incubator Workshop
Tuesday 9 September 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: Bunjil Place, Function Centre B
Cost: Free
Facilitator: Debby Maziarz (Debby Maziarz Productions)
What are your tips, hacks or even questions for using, reusing, upcycling and recycling? Please share them with us via email or through the Green Living in Casey Facebook group.
Finally, if you're not sure what to do with your waste, check out our searchable directory or our updated Recycling and Waste Guide.
