Melbourne Water Case Study

The Living Links Climate Future Plots Research Project is setting the benchmark for climate-adaptive strategies in urban environments. By establishing five experimental plots in Melbourne’s south east, this collaborative effort is testing how native plant species respond to future climate scenarios, paving the way for resilient landscapes that can thrive in a changing world.

The Climate Future Plots Research Project is one of six collaborations funded by the Our Catchments, Our Communities EC5 Grant (2021 – 2024). Additional funding from Melbourne Water’s Liveable Communities, liveable Waterways will ensure the project continues until 2026. This initative was developed through the Living Links Partnership, which brings together 18 partners, including 10 Councils, Parks Victoria, South East Water, Bushwalking Victoria, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Field Naturists of Victoria, Holmesglen TAFE, and the Bunurong Land Council.

The Living Links Climate Future Plot Research Partnership Project involves contributions from Federation University, Melbourne University, Melbourne Water, City of Greater Dandenong, Maroondah Council, Knox Council, and the Bunurong Land Council.

After years of planning, the project progressed to the implementation phase in June 2024, with five Climate Future Research Plots established across the municipalities of Greater Dandenong, Knox and Maroondah. This milestone was celebrated with an official launch that included a traditional Bunurong Smoking Ceremony.

Federation University is leading the research and monitoring component of this innovative project. The research plots in Melbourne’s south east will be used to evaluate how specially selected native plants respond to climate changes in urban environments. The goal is to assess how these plants adapt to predicted impacts of climate change, providing vital information that other land managers across Victoria can apply to create long-term, resilient vegetation management strategies.

Each of the five plots covers at least 1,250 square metres and contains up to 1,760 plants. The plots include five different plant species collected from four diverse climate zones across Victoria. The plants have been sourced from regions representing the climate conditions of 2024, 2050 and 2090, as outlined in the State Government’s Guide to Creating Climate Future Plots (2020).

Each plant has been mapped using differential GPS to a precision of one centimetre, allowing highly accurate long term monitoring of their growth and condition. Over the next few decades, this project will engage many current and future students from Federation University, as well as provide opportunities for local schools and agencies to participate in monitoring activities.

Professor Singarayer Florentine (“Florry”), Restoration Ecologist, Federation University, image by Riley Fisher Photography.