- Home
- What's Happening
- News
- Council Preserves Biologically Significant Land
Council is protecting and conserving sites of biological significance in Knox with the purchase of two parcels of land in Upper Ferntree Gully.
The purchase of the former VicTrack land at 1155 and 1183 Burwood Highway was financed through fees paid by developers to offset the loss of native vegetation. These funds can only be used to buy land to compensate for the biodiversity impact of development activity.
Knox Mayor, Councillor Susan Laukens said the acquisition helped to retain biodiversity and protect the much-loved tree canopy, providing a beautiful gateway to the Dandenongs for generations to come.
“Our Knox community has strongly indicated that it values the green leafy nature of Knox,” she said.
“During consultation to develop a community vision for Knox, 97% of surveyed residents identified the natural environment as either ‘very important’ or ‘important’.
“Council’s purchase ensures these two parcels of land are retained for public use, and large trees and indigenous vegetation are retained and protected from removal as the result of development.
"Council successfully negotiated to buy the land at a significantly lower price than if it was sold on the open market, which reflects that it will be reserved for public use.
“Acquiring this land in an already heavily developed area ensures these parcels will not be developed, preserving native corridors between Quarry Reserve and these bushland reserves.”
There are two large canopy trees more than 80 years old on the land, which forms part of the habitat corridor. Protecting the site presents many environmental benefits such as supporting wildlife ‘stepping stones’ enabling local native animals to travel along the railway corridor.
Within Knox, there is approximately only 4% native vegetation coverage across the municipality. The retention and management of remnant native trees and vegetation is the main way to conserve natural biodiversity across the landscape.
Protecting this biologically significant land will help Council achieve its net zero 2030 target under the Knox Climate Response Plan 2021-2031.
Share
What's happening
-
Events, activities and festivals
- Knox Factor
- Festivals and civic events
- Community event info and registration
- Community training: 3Rs of family violence
- Community training: Building Aboriginal cultural competency
- Community training: Child safe standards for Community groups
- Community training: Cultural awareness training
- Community training: Managing challenging members and volunteer-related situations
- Community training: Safe food handling
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Running a Successful Community Group/Sports Club
- Have Your Say
-
News
- A revitalised route for Boronia
- Art Beyond Waste exhibition
- Business networking and Bodacious Coffee tour
- Could your community group benefit from funding support?
- Cr Susan Laukens elected Knox Mayor
- Economic & demographic insights: What’s ahead for Knox?
- Electoral irregularities
- Free Community Training Workshops
- Free community training workshops
- Free sustainable living workshops
- Free workshops for cleaner. greener living
- Get growing with Gardens for Harvest
- International Women's Day networking event
- Join our bike education courses
- Join the Environment Advisory Committee
- Join the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee
- Keep leaving your rubbish bin out until 6pm
- Knox retailer networking session
- Learn how to compost at home
- Leave your rubbish bin out until 6 pm
- Make an 'empty your fridge' frittata
- Make the switch to reusable nappies
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- More Than Shelter
- New wetland ready to explore
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Progress is building at Bayswater Library
- Race ready!
- Ready, set, play! 2025 local playground upgrades
- Removal of pine trees at Koolunga Native Reserve
- Revitalising Boronia
- Rubbish bin lids are changing
- School holiday activities for young people
- StageScape - community performing arts festival
- Together we are Knox
- Together, we've changed 86% of bin lids
- Transform your home with all-electric solutions
- Upgrade to all-electric and save
- We are sorry
- Winning government grants and tenders workshop
- Arts in Knox
-
Major projects and initiatives
- Capital Works Projects at Sports Facilities
- Capital works
- Carrington Park Activity Centre redevelopment
- Chandler Road shared path and road renewal project
- Demolition of Knox Basketball Stadium (Boronia)
- Gilbert Park upgrades
- Kings Park masterplan
- Lewis Park Masterplan
- New Bayswater Library
- Park Ridge Reserve Upgrade
- Tormore Reserve pavilion upgrade
- Wally Tew upgrade
- Wantirna Reserve redevelopment
- Community groups and volunteering
- Explore Knox
-
Event Calendar
- Bee Gees Revival
- Burt Bacharach (Featuring Michael Cormick)
- FRITZ (School Holiday Feature Show)
- Lady Be Good, The Songs of Ella Fitzgerald (Featuring Nina Ferro)
- Tenori
- The Beatlez
- Tis the Season – A Very Jazzy Christmas Spectacular
- Wish Upon A Star – The Disney Songbook (ft. Danielle Matthews)
- Women of Wit
- Knox eNews