mount buninyong panorama

Buninyong's natural environment

Surrounded by a precious band of bush and farmlands with natural springs and creeks, Buninyong's natural environment is one of its greatest assets. Along with several public parks and gardens in the town, it provides shelter for wildlife in a beautiful setting. However it is also very vulnerable to destruction by over-development and various forms of degradation.

Several groups have been formed in the district to care for the natural environment and try to preserve the remaining parks and bushland areas, safeguarding their existence for future generations.

dry gong
Our beautiful Gong reduced to a muddy puddle, for the first time in living memory. (April 2007)


2023 Smart Living Expo

Sunday 26 Feb, 10am - 3.30pm, Royal Park, Buninyong

2023 sustainability expo

Be part of the solution!
Visit 2023 Smart Living Expo for more info.


EV Charging pointEV Charging point now in Buninyong

Free EV charging is now available at the two-vehicle EV station installed in Warrenheip St in January 2020. It is conveniently located in front of DeSoza Park, next to the Information Centre, opposite the BP garage. The charger also has a 1.5 amp power point for charging electric bikes and scooters.

Environment protection groups

Bunanyung Landscape Alliance

Bunanyung Landscape AllianceThe Bunanyung Landscape Alliance advocates for our environment on behalf of the community. A non-profit association, it aims to protect and/or enhance our land & waterscapes. It is an alliance of community members, Landcare and Friends groups, networks and associations involved in promoting the health of biodiversity for the urban and rural catchments of the Moorabool, Leigh and Woady Yaloak, all which form the northern part of the Corangamite Catchment Area.

For more information, visit the Bunanyung Landscape Alliance: website or Facebook page or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friends of Buninyong Botanic Gardens

Website: Friends of Buninyong Botanic Gardens

Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friends of Royal Park-Buninyong Sustainability

planting at Royal Park This group was set up to save Royal Park from threatened housing development. It has converted the former Buninyong Football Oval to an area for environmental education with a thriving community garden and extensive revegetation. Many willing hands planted 500 indigenous shrubs and trees in banks around Royal Park on 21st June 2009. You can see the results on the eastern and western sides of the old football ground and enjoy watching them grow into handsome garden areas.

The old Football clubhouse is now used as an environmental resource centre and can be hired out for suitable functions while the playing area is now shared with the Buninyong Redbacks Soccer Club.

The Friends of Royal Park-Buninyong Sustainability also organise annual Sustainable Living Festivals here in Buninyong, at Royal Park, cnr Hedrick and Warrenheip Sts Buninyong.

See Friends of Royal Park-Buninyong Sustainability for more info and updates on their activities.

Friends of the Union Jack Reserve

Enquires: Ken Nicholls ... 0437 942 064

Landcare

Leigh Catchment Group Landcare Office
407 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong
PO BOX 167, Buninyong
Enquiries: Nick McKinley, Landcare Coordinator
Phone: 03 5341 2364 or 0455 147 398
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: Leigh Catchment Group
or Victorian Landcare-Leigh Catchment Group
and Leighway - Local Landcare newsletter

Williamsons Creek Landcare Group

Landcare Tree Plantings

Community Tree Plantings are held regularly and several thousand trees have been planted by Landcare groups, often with assistance from pupils in local schools on School Tree Day.

tree planting tree planting

At Garibaldi Bridge Reserve, tree planters of all ages got together on what turned out to be a lovely morning in the midst of some heavy rain over that weekend. Over 250 trees, shrubs and small smaller plants were carefully planted , quarded and watered in. The ground had been prepared beforehand and the species carefully selected by the Garibaldi Environment Group who have been turning this area of woody weeds and shifting waterway into a wonderful habitat and picnic area for nearly ten years.

Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare also planted selected trees at the very top of Mount Buninyong, making sure they are protected from grazing wallabies.
If you are interested in the work of these groups or you want advice on planting indigenous plants on your property while the ground is good and wet, contact Nick McKinley in the Buninyong Landcare Office near the Post Office on 5341 2364 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

tree planting tree planting
Planting native seedlings on the N-E slopes of Mount Buninyong, National Tree Planting Day

 

Animal Welfare Services

BADGAR (Ballarat and District-Greendale Animal Rescue) ... Emergency wildlife rescue operates 24/7 ... 1300 223 427 (emergencies only) ... Web: BADGAR

Leigh Valley Hawk and Owl Sanctuary ... Martin Scuffins ... Hardies Hill Rd, Garibaldi ... 5341 4623 or 0417 279 868 or 0427 414 623 ... E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. web: www.hawkandowl.com.au

Koala Rescue Australian Koala Foundation ... 5342 8141 ... Rolph Schlagloth ... PO Box 655 Ballarat www.savethekoala.com/ or www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/sh/native-wildlife

Possum Paws Wildlife Shelter ... Ballarat ... 0424 579 736 ... Facebook page: Possum Paws Wildlife Shelter

Wildlife Victoria Emergency Rescue ... 0417 380 687 or 03 8400 7300 ... web: wildlifevictoria.org.au ... email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sustainable Living

Smart Building and Living Expo

Smart Building and Living Expo

Held annually at Royal Park, this local event is part of Australia’s biggest Sustainable Living Festival. The Buninyong Smart Building and Living Expo showcases local sustainable building and lifestyle services and products for those planning to build or retrofit sustainable home solutions, and those interested in sustainable lifestyle and food choices.  For more information visit: Smart Building and Living Expo or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BREAZE

BREAZE logoBased in Ballarat, BREAZE - Ballarat Renewable Energy And Zero Emissions Inc., is a locally formed group of energetic, forward thinking people who believe that there are more sustainable ways of living on our patch of the planet.
See their website: BREAZE for more information about environmentally-friendly lifestyles and solar energy.

Boomerang Bags Buninyong

Weekly workshops held Tues 9-11am and 5-7pm in the Anglican Church Hall, Scott St, and bi-monthly at the rear of the Community House, Warrenheip St
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook: Boomerang Bags Buninyong

Boomerang Bags Buninyong

Buninyong Community Collective

A food-based co-op selling locally-produced foodstuffs bought in bulk. Bring your own reusable containers. Open weekly on Thursdays, 9:30-11am and 5:30-6:30pm
Anglican Church Hall, 405 Scott St Buninyong. 
Web: buninyongcommunitycollective.org.au
Facebook: Buninyong Community Collective
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wind Farm Enquiries

Like to know more about wind farms? Tracey Ward, Community Engagement Manager of Lal Lal WindFarms, is located on site at 24 Duggans Rd Lal Lal and is happy to answer questions or concerns, and explain everything about windfarms..

Call the community hotline 1800 187 183 or see the Lal Lal WindFarms website for more info.

Local environmental resources

Buninyong's plants

An excellent inventory of native trees, shrubs and plants within a 10 mile radius around Buninyong, including their Aboriginal uses, has been compiled by Neil McCracken. It is available for viewing or downloading as pdf: Buninyong Plants

Lost Waters - A History of a Troubled Catchment

An historical study of the West Moorabool River catchment by local author, Erica Nathan. This insightful book may be purchased online from Melbourne University Press where you can read Erica's introduction to the book online for free or you can purchase the book from the MUP catalogue: Lost Waters