Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve

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Australia
Ferntree Gully, VIC
Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve

New members welcome & needed! We meet each month on the second Saturday from 10am-12pm.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional owners of Koolunga Native Reserve. It’s a privilege to work on this traditional land and help restore the biodiversity. FOKNR Vision: A strong and healthy environment, providing essential habitat for a larger connected landscape

FOKNR Mission: Preserve and enhance the unique flora and fauna of Knox,

into the future

FOKNR Priorities:
-> Preserve the diverse flora of Knox Improve habitat for wildlife
-> Pest species control
-> Advocating for environmental outcomes and connectivity in Knox
-> Engage and educate our local community Improve creek health

FOKNR Values: Stewardship, Community Focused, Teamwork

Koolunga Native Reserve is located in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges National Park and is one of the early catchments for Blind Creek and later the Dandenong Creek. These both flow through Knox and further south east and provide a key wildlife corridor linking the national park through suburbia. The native reserve provides critical habitat and breeding options for over 50 recorded bird species. Other important animals that call Koolunga home include two frog species, galaxias fish, short-finned eels, echidnas, sugar gliders, possums and a large range of insects and water bugs. In 1994 local residents established the Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve and the community have continued volunteering to preserve and enhance its unique indigenous bushland. We work closely with Knox City Council on local issues and environmental management. We also assist Council on occasion at a nearby location, Wirrianda Reserve, a small triangle of bushland near a very busy road intersection.

09/06/2026

Please spare a few minutes to give Knox Council feedback on their draft changes Local Law 24.

👎 They're proposing substantially weaker infringement penalties for a person illegally removing significant trees or vegetation on private land.

📢 Consultation closes this Sunday 14 June.

This is not related to lawful tree maintenance or gardening that we all follow. 🪓 This is the illegal removal / harm to significant trees or significant vegetation.

Somehow the penalties for committing permanent ecological damage are the same as temporary inconveniences like camping on council land or erecting a sign without a permit. ⚖️

📣 Simple messages to send to Knox Council:
➡️ Residents want stronger, not weaker penalties for illegal removal of significant trees & vegetation on private land.
➡️ Residents expect council to have the right resources to support this local law: education for community and businesses, mapping and tracking of significant trees & vegetation on private land, following through on investigation and enforcement.

The quickest way to give feedback is to email: [email protected]

05/06/2026

Threatening rain held off this morning when a very successful Community Planting session was held by Knox Council. 900 plants (trees, bushes and native grasses) were planted to provide habitat for birds, insects and especially sugar gliders.
We were pleased to have the Mayor - Cr Paige Kennett participate in this event.
Many thanks to Knox Council for their ongoing support for Koolunga.

31/05/2026

Join Knox Council's community planting event this Friday and help re-stock Koolunga's Animal Supermarket!

Planting a diverse range of native trees & plants will support a wide variety of wildlife & insects, including our favourite sugar gliders and cockies!

There's also important native grasses to be planted amongst the native trees that naturally regenerated.

29/05/2026

A great educational sign by Monash Council: Animal supermarket!
Eucalyptus trees, wattles and banksias provide a balanced diet for so much of our favourite wildlife!

28/05/2026

Sugar gliders spotted in Wattle trees specially planted for them!
Along the edge of the large paddocks (on the Wayut creek side) you'll see a strip of Wattles that were planted to provide food & shelter. Gliders eat sap from the Wattle trees in the colder months and switch to insects in the warmer months. 🐞🦗🦋
We've been planting ground covers & grasses to improve habitat for insects so the gliders can find more tasty snacks.
🌳🌳🌳🌳
Sugar gliders rarely move across the ground and rely on very tall Eucalyptus trees (alive or dead) to move freely about the landscape. Strategically planting more Eucalyptus trees will help them glide over to new areas!

26/05/2026

Sound on 🔈
Sugar glider calling from a Wattle tree. The sound is often described as a small dog barking in the distance.

24/05/2026

Congratulations to Richard Faragher from the Knox Environment Society for Volunteer of the Year!

Not only has Richard led the KES for many years and delivered important projects for the community but he also provides a key role across the environmental volunteers network.

He's always willing to provide support, encouragement and advice to our members and is usually working with us on a monthly (sometimes weekly) basis. Thank you Richard!

And congratulations to all of the other 2026 award recipients, your stories are inspiring and helping make our community a better place!

20/05/2026

National Volunteer Week 2026

15/05/2026

Address

Old Forest Road
Ferntree Gully, VIC
3156

Telephone

+61397583112

Website

https://www.vefn.org.au/group/friends-of-koolunga-native-reserve/

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