There’s nothing common about Merbein Common!
LOCATION
Merbein Common
TRADITIONAL OWNERS
First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
OUTPUTS
- 2.2 kilometres of road capping to deliver all-weather access
- 14 kilometres of track rationalisation to protect native vegetation and areas of cultural significance
- 0.5 hectares of seed bombing and mulching
- 5 new signs
- 0.6 kilometres of bollards
- 6 kilometres of fencing
- 45 assessments (e.g. invasive species, fauna), which help target control
measures - 36 events
INVESTMENT (4 YEARS)
Approximately $1,400,000 of investment over 4 years was provided by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action through the Environmental Contribution Tranche 5 funding program
PARTNERS
First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Parks Victoria, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA)
Don’t let the name fool you – Merbein Common may sound it, but it’s anything BUT common.
Deeply loved by Traditional Owners and community members, Merbein Common is a floodplain reserve nestled in a bend of the Murray River in far north-west Victoria. Located west of Mildura, the common is steeped in Aboriginal cultural significance; it has a series of nationally significant wetlands; and is home to more than 196 fauna and 88 flora species, many of which are protected by international agreements. It’s also one of the region’s most popular fishing and camping spots.
However, it wasn’t always this way. Merbein Common was a victim of early settlement, once used as the town’s rubbish tip. Settlers on nearby fruit properties cut trees down to make trellises, paddleboats used the timber for the boilers, and a lot of Red Gum was cut to make railway sleepers. On top of that, the area was heavily grazed by cattle and very little vegetation remained.
But it’s people’s love of this unique stretch of Murray River floodplain that has brought it back from the brink. Over time, surrounding land use changed, and preservation groups have emerged to help rekindle the beauty of the common.
When planning the investment for EC5, community conversations were clear – people wanted to see investment continue to help bring this piece of river country back to its former glory.
From 2021 to 2024, Traditional Owners and community members have worked in partnership with Mallee CMA and Parks Victoria to ensure cultural, social and ecological values are restored at Merbein Common. Among the highlights were the upgrading of most of the main access track to all weather access (greatly appreciated by locals and the many caravan owners who visit the common every week); 14 kilometres of track rationalisation to protect native vegetation and areas of cultural significance; 36 events; various water bug identification workshops with Traditional Owners; post-flood vegetation surveys; an extremely popular outdoor painting workshop called “Painting en plein air”; and an environmental education morning for members of a local disability group.
The work is not finished yet. Under EC6, we’ll continue to deliver on local priorities for Merbein Common including more track upgrades, improving interpretative signage, and fencing, bollards, signage, and mulching to limit vehicle disturbance and improve riparian condition.
We have also heard that community would like us to hold more activities where locals can get involved in monitoring native fish populations, birds, bats and frogs, so we are working on delivering these events as well!
Picnic facilities overlooking “The Cutting” at Merbein Common.
