Be part of this exciting water quality monitoring project, one component of our larger mission of increasing platypus populations in the lower Werribee River.

Platypus Watch is being run in partnership with Victoria University, whose researchers and specialist Environmental Engineers will guide citizen scientists over a 12-month period to test water quality. The sessions will happen bi-monthly, at two sites along the Werribee River.

These sites include Cobbledick’s Ford, a peri-urban location, and Riverbend Historical Park, within a more urban stretch of the river.

This project is part of our long-term work to determine how to increase and strengthen platypus populations within the Werribee. This work will couple water quality monitoring with extensive revegetation that will provide habitat for the platypus, as well as increase it’s food source.

As part of our bi-monthly session, we will be visiting both sites to conduct on-site testing of several parameters known to be affected by urban development, such as nutrient levels, heavy metals, salinity, organic contaminants, and macro-invertibrates (aka platypus food!). These parameters are also vital to understanding whether the environment is suitable for platypus habitat. While at Cobbbledick’s Ford, we will also have a short walk to discover some of the conservation work that has been done in the reserve.

Please meet at Cobbledick’s Ford at 9.50 am, in the car park: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u2P6PeRNtnNbzrFKA

We will then travel to the second testing site at Riverbend Historical Park, Werribee: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u2P6PeRNtnNbzrFKA

We will conclude at 12pm.

Please note there are no bathroom facilities at either site.  Wear suitable outdoor clothing, walking shoes, be sunsmart – and don’t forget your water bottle!

This is a partnership project with Victoria University and is generously supported by Greater Western Water.