Reserve gets boardwalk

By Danielle Galvin
A COMMUNITY group is celebrating a small victory with a new boardwalk in the Frog Hollow Reserve.
The boardwalk was built close to Hallam North Road in the Endeavour Hills reserve.
“That’s the latest thing the council has built in the reserve,” said Steve Hallett, president of the Friends of Frog Hollow Reserve group.
Two years ago, the group lobbied the City of Casey and Melbourne Water to put up a bridge and boardwalk to connect the Endeavour Hills region to the Gunns Road Reserve in Hallam.
After the construction of the Hallam overpass, Mr Hallett was concerned that there was no way to cross Eummerring Creek.
“The council had to look into funding for the bridge,” he said.
Melbourne Water built a series of ponds in the reserve, but the site remained bare.
The bridge was erected in 2008 after years of lobbying.
“Before that, residents used a log to cross Eumemmerring Creek,” said Ray Darbritz, secretary of the group.
The community group has been working since 2002 to improve the reserve.
“Bushwalkers, ladies with prams and walkers use the reserve for a variety of things,” Mr Hallett said.
Longer term, the group hopes to work with the City of Casey to lobby for more bridges, boardwalks and viewing platforms in the reserve.
Mr Hallett says it’s important that walkers use the reserve during the cooler months, too.
“People need to be able to access the walking tracks all-year round, even when there is flooding in the reserve,” Mr Darbritz said.
On July 31, the group will host a National Tree Day event to plant trees and shrubs along the creek.
The event will start at 10am with a free sausage sizzle and drink at the Brian J Carroll Reserve in Eumemmerring.
Council provides the plants and prepares the ground for planting.
Since the tree planting initiative began in the two reserves, over 45,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted by the group.