Platypus Alliance - Bacchus Marsh

20/10/2026

Get your kids involved in our “Take the lead for Platypus” Art Competition this month!

This October we are highlighting how we can empower dog owners to “Take the lead” for Platypus and do the right thing to protect our waterways and our platypuses. We would like to encourage dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and clean up dog p**p responsibly near waterways.

Our river is a beautiful place to walk our dogs. This special river environment is also home to many plants and animals. There are swamp wallabies, platypuses, waterbirds, rakali (water rats) woodland birds, lizards, snakes, possums, kangaroos, grey headed flying foxes, owls, waterbugs, fish and more!

Research has shown that there has been an increase in deaths and injuries of platypus from dog attacks. Even the presence of dogs in their environment can interrupt feeding, resting and breeding.

When dog p**p is left on the walking trail (including p**p left in bags) it washes into the river and can harm our rivers ecosystem as it contains harmful bacteria and parasites. It can lead to algal blooms and a reduction in the oxygen levels of the waterway.

Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance, together with Melbourne Water will be installing some signs along the Werribee River to deliver this message.

Can you help us?

We need artwork to help deliver our message on the signs

Our messages are:
• Leash your dog around rivers, creeks and lakes
• Pick up dog p**p and dispose of it in a bin
• Leashing your dog keeps it safe from snakes and ticks
• Leashing your dog keeps platypus and other wildlife safe

There will be 4 winning artworks that will appear on signs!

So, get creative and come up with some engaging artworks to help us communicate this important message!

Entries close Saturday 31st of October
Email your entries to -
[email protected] with the title “Take the Lead for Platypus”
Please include your name and age and a parents contact details

18/10/2026

Creeks and rivers are great places to walk your dog. But they are also prime habitat for
snakes and paralysis ticks, which pose serious risks to pets.

🐍 Victoria is home to 27 snake species, most of them venomous, making on-leash walks
the safer choice!

Keep dogs and platypus safe when visiting waterways:

🐶 Leash your dog around rivers, creeks and lakes.

🐶 Choose walking routes that allow dogs when visiting waterways with your pooch. Check out Park Victoria’s A-Z guide for dog friendly walking trails.

🐶 Learn more: https://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/project/take-the-lead-for-platypus-
platypus-month-2026

16/10/2026

Putting up fake cobwebs and other decorations outside can cause serious harm to our feathered friends! Check out this helpful guide from BirdLife Australia before you decorate. 🎃

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance are working to protect the local riverside habitat and put in one of the many submissions to raise questions about the development of this much loved open space, used by kangaroos, swamp wallabies, birds, snakes, insects and many others. We will be present at the planning panel next year. Stay tuned!

A proposal to rezone land for housing near the Werribee River in Bacchus Marsh will be referred to an independent planning panel following flooding and environmental impact concerns. Moorabool council, at its 7 October meeting, unanimously supported the move to request Planning Minister Sonya Kilken...

12/10/2026

Celebrate Platypus Month this October!

“Take the lead for Platypus” Art Competition

This October we are highlighting how we can empower dog owners to “Take the lead” for Platypus and do the right thing to protect our waterways and our platypuses. We would like to encourage dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and clean up dog p**p responsibly near waterways.

Our river is a beautiful place to walk our dogs. This special river environment is also home to many plants and animals. There are swamp wallabies, platypuses, waterbirds, rakali (water rats) woodland birds, lizards, snakes, possums, kangaroos, grey headed flying foxes, owls, waterbugs, fish and more!

Research has shown that there has been an increase in deaths and injuries of platypus from dog attacks. Even the presence of dogs in their environment can interrupt feeding, resting and breeding.

When dog p**p is left on the walking trail it washes into the river and can harm our rivers ecosystem as it contains harmful bacteria and parasites. It can lead to algal blooms and a reduction in the oxygen levels of the waterway.

Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance, together with Melbourne Water will be installing some signs along the Werribee River to deliver this message.

Can you help us?

We need artwork to help deliver our message on the signs

Our messages are:
• Leash your dog around rivers, creeks and lakes
• Pick up dog p**p and dispose of it in a bin
• Leashing your dog keeps it safe from snakes and ticks
• Leashing your dog keeps platypus and other wildlife safe

There will be 4 winning artworks that will appear on signs!

So, get creative and come up with some engaging artworks to help us communicate this important message!

Entries close Saturday 31st of October
Email your entries to -
[email protected] with the title “Take the Lead for Platypus”
Please include your name and age and a parents contact details

11/10/2026

Did you know platypuses live in waterways across most of Victoria?

Play a part in their protection by leashing your dog around creeks, rivers and lakes. 🌊

Dog attacks are one of the leading causes of platypus deaths in Victoria. Even a dog’s
presence can disturb wildlife from important behaviours like feeding, resting and breeding.

Take the Lead and join the many Victorians protecting platypus:

🐶 Leash your dog around rivers, creeks and lakes.

🐶 Choose walking routes that allow dogs when visiting waterways with your pooch. Check out Park Victoria’s A-Z guide for dog friendly walking trails.

🐶 Learn more: https://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/project/take-the-lead-for-platypus-
platypus-month-2026