Earthcare St Kilda is a non-profit volunteer group that works in partnership with local government, state government bodies and scientists to improve the natural resources of the City of Port Phillip, from Port Melbourne to Elwood.
We do what we can, where we are
Earthcare volunteers come from the City of Port Phillip and further afield to work on a number of practical marine and terrestrial projects. These projects are aimed at protecting the local natural environment, as well as increasing the diversity and extent of indigenous flora and fauna.
Earthcare St Kilda volunteers also facilitate opportunities for local residents to experience and learn more about the wide array of plants and animals with which we share our lives, and to join in projects which are designed to protect and improve the local environment.
Current Earthcare St Kilda projects include:
- Monitoring the health of Little Penguin and Rakali populations.
- Providing a Penguin Guide service each night during the day light saving period to educate visitors and minimise the impact of visitors on the penguin colony.
- Weed removal and revegetation of parklands.
- Minimising the impact of North Pacific Seastars around St Kilda pier.
- Seagrass bed surveys.
- Surveys of local bird and plant species, both resident and transient.
- Public education for school groups, visitors and other interested parties.
- Submissions to government on development proposals which may impact the natural environment of the City of Port Phillip.
Where required, projects are undertaken with the approval of and permits from the relevant government bodies such as Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Members are invited to hear specialist speakers on topics of interest at the St Kilda West Beach Bathers Pavillion and receive regular emails and newsletters about Earthcare St Kilda activities.
For more details on how to become an Earthcare member, click here.
Upcoming events
Both our Penguin Research team and our volunteer Penguin Guides will be busy over this summer minimising the impact of visitors on the St Kilda penguin colony.
Don't hesitate to come up and say hi to any of our 'yellow vested' team manning the St Kilda breakwater each night from sunset.
Calander of activities: March - May 2012
|
March |
April |
May |
|---|---|---|
| 4th March 2012: 9.00 am Clean up Australia Day site West Beach St Kilda |
15th April 10.00 am Tree planting - Corroboree Tree Meet at the Red Gum Car Park, Albert Park (St Kilda end of the Park) |
6th May Elwood Canal Tree planting Meet near Elwood Primary School Elwood |
| 5th March 2012: 8.00 pm Rakali watch - Webb Dock Meet near SLSC, Port Melbourne |
22nd April 2012: 9.00 am Northern Pacific seastar thinning St Kilda pier |
19th May Time TBA Penguin Research Team only Skills training Phillip Island Penguin Reserve |
| 24th March 2012: 10.30 am Northern Pacific seastar thinning St Kilda pier |
30th April 2012: 7.30pm for 7.45pm start |
20th May 8.00 am Northern Pacific seastar thinning St Kilda pier |
Latest News
The Northern Pacific Seastars are Back!
Despite terrible water visibility, volunteers collected more than 24 kilos of the invasive Northern Pacific Seastar at the first collection of the year. Next seastar collection is Saturday 24th March at 9 am at St Kilda pier. Both Earthcare members and non-members are welcome to join in.
Bendigo Bank grant for penguin research
Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the generous contribution made by Bendigo Bank to penguin research in 2011. This contribution was made through the Elwood Community Grants program for the purpose of purchasing microchips.
Port Phillip Cup Raises Over $800
Each year, on Australia Day, Kite Republic and Stand Up Paddle Boards St Kilda hold the Port Phillip Cup kite boarding and SUP championships at St Kilda Beach.
Kite Republic and SUP St Kilda has donated the proceeds from this event to Earthcare St Kilda to help fund our activities.
