Page Text: Photo by Jessica Becher
Vegetation management
The Puffing Billy Railway passes through sections of the Dandenong Ranges, Wright Forest and other reserves. The railway acts as a passage for local wildlife connecting onto neighbouring properties. There are areas along the Railway that contain significant bushland vegetation, which can be seen at Wright Forest. Monbulk Creek under Trestle Bridge Photo by Jessica Becher
Internal and external volunteer groups that operate within the Railway reserve are dedicated to raising awareness and commit to environmental works through weed management and revegetation efforts.
Revegetation activities along the corridor are complex and require cooperation and alignment with the Puffing Billy Railway objectives, regulations and legislations (Rail Safety Act and OH&S).
Find out more about the flora at Puffing Billy Railway .
Fauna
As you travel on the train, keep your eyes open for the crimson rosella (pictured below, left), kookaburra (pictured below, right) and the purple swamphen who prefer to spend their time on the lake at Emerald Lake Park. One of our rare and very shy locals you may be fortunate to see is the Superb Lyrebird.
Puffing Billy Railway has a variety of native animal species along the line. Some shy mammals that call Puffing Billy Railway their home include: sugar gliders, brush-tailed possums, ring-tailed possums, bush rat, common wombat, koala, the short beaked echidna (pictured below, middle) and many more. There are several reptiles you may see on sunny days basking in the sun's rays; including blue tongue lizards, skinks and even brown snakes.
As stated previously, the purpose of revegetation and the waterways management plan is to help create a supportive and desirable environment for native animals that are found in the area, including the platypus which can be found in one of our creeks.
The pest animal management plan is implemented on a regular basis with harbour management, the removal of weed species in which fauna can live in and hide under. The pest animal management plan motions the control of the effects of the introduced pest animal species (e.g., rabbits and foes) along the railway. The aim of this management plan will help reduce the impact that pest species have on the native species and their habitat. This in turn will improve the ability of native animals in the area to survive and reproduce.
The native fauna management plan is focused on attracting native species back into the area while reducing invading and competition from introduced pest species.