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24 JANUARY, 2023
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Grant grows vegetation
Grow West co-ordinator Lindy MacRaild is leading rejuvenation works along the Werribee River near Ballan. (Damjan Janevski) 316139_02
Moorabool Landcare Network has received a $20,000 grant from Greater Western Water (GWW) for a Grow West-run project to revitalise native vegetation along the Werribee River. For 20 years Grow West has been working with community organisations in Melbourne’s west on an ambitious landscape restoration project aimed at restoring native vegetation and creating “biolinks” between large areas of remnant vegetation like the Lerderderg state Park and Brisbane ranges. The GWW grant will go towards revitalising an area of the Werribee river near Ballan which involved weed control of invasive species like serrated tussock, and replacing it with of 5000 native seedlings. Grow West co-ordinator Lindy MacRaild said the “generous” donation is going towards “important” work. “We’re looking forward to being able to get in and do some weed control and replace it with some native vegetation,” she said. “Linking helps animal movement throughout the landscape and being able to do this planting along the river also contributes to river health which helps the whole catchment,” she said.
Lifeguard pool shrinking By Liam McNally Melton Waves Leisure Centre has been forced to occasionally lower its guest capacity and temporarily close pools as it battles a lifeguard shortage. The centre is feeling the pinch of a statewide shortage of lifeguards and is seeking more young people from the community to get involved in lifeguard work. Life Saving Victoria (LSV) aquatic industry services manager Alek Olszewski said the aquatic industry was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, as it was “one of the first to close
and last to reopen following lockdowns”. “LSV continues to train record numbers of lifeguards but despite this, some Victorian regions have still struggled to recruit staff members.” Aquatic facilities are required to have a ratio of one lifeguard to 100 guests for still water, and one guard to 40 guests for moving water. Melton Waves has a 50-metre outdoor pool, a 25-metre indoor pool, a wave pool, a warm water pool, and a spa. Facility manager Shaun Wyatt said that before lockdowns, at any given time the centre would have had up to 12 lifeguards on but this summer it had about six.
“You used to throw out an ad, and you’d have 10 people-plus apply, and you might only have four positions and you could choose from those 10 who were gonna be the strongest … [now] we could easily take on another 10 lifeguards,” he said. “The ones that are coming through as soon as they’re doing it they’re loving it. “I’d love to see more young people come and enjoy a job that is very rewarding, and a job where you get to create a safe environment for swimmers and the public from the Melton community.” Mr Olszewski said LSV is endorsing
Victorian government programs to boost lifeguard and swim teacher numbers including the New Wave and Youth Aquatic Accreditation Programs. “We strongly encourage people who want to give back to their communities and to live a more active lifestyle to get in touch with their local aquatic facility and to become a lifeguard,” he said. “It’s a great way to give back to your community, a great industry to work in and a good way to make a little bit of extra money in the current economic circumstances.”
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