Be a scientist for a day and discover what goes on in the Victoria University laboratories and research facilities.

The Werribee River Association has partnered with Victoria University to undertake Platypus Watch, an important research project that will contribute to our mission of increasing platypus populations in the lower Werribee River.

The 12-month project includes bi-monthly water quality testing at two sites along the lower Werribee River; Cobbledick’s Ford, a peri-urban location, and Riverbend Historical Park, within a more urban stretch of the river. These are both sites that, since the drowning of seven platypus in an opera house yabby net in 2018, have not recorded platypus populations in eDNA testing.

We know platypus inhabit the lower stretch of the river, from the diversion weir to Werribee Zoo. Part of our long-term work is to determine how platypus may be able to repopulate the stretch of the river above the weir. One option is to reintroduce; however, we firstly need to ensure water quality and vegetation are at a high standard.

The project involves researchers and specialist Environmental Engineers guiding citizen scientists 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!).

The project also involves the collection of water samples, taken to the university’s labs to be tested for pesticides and herbicides. We are inviting you on a tour of these labs to see how this testing takes place.

Registration is essential.

To attend our on-site testing day please register here.