First Friends of Dandenong Creek

Join FFDC and become part of a passionate community dedicated to protecting and restoring local environments. As a member, you’ll be invited to exclusive planting events, guided tours with our knowledgeable Committee, and opportunities to volunteer or learn about the local environment. Our programs are designed for all ages, offering chances to engage with nature and build professional credentials.

Membership is easy and free to join, with annual fees due in July. Your fees directly fund the purchase and planting of indigenous plants, such as eucalyptus, rare flowering bushes, and groundcovers. As a member, you’ll see the growth of the vegetation you’ve helped create, knowing it will thrive for generations to come, enriching the environment and the lives of those around us.

At FFDC, we focus on improving the creek and surrounding environment through a range of key activities.

We work on enhancing water quality and riparian habitat, reducing litter, managing environmental weeds, and re-establishing indigenous floral and faunal habitats. We also strive to protect the waterway from inappropriate development, advocating for responsible land use to preserve its long-term health.

Community engagement is at the core of our mission. Through education, signage campaigns, citizen science programs, and pollution reduction initiatives, we involve the local community in conservation and rehabilitation efforts, ensuring a healthier creek and environment for future generations.

Reflecting on our achievement as the winners of the ‘Healthy Environment – Community Champion’ category at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2021, we were filled with pride and gratitude.

Winning this award for our film ‘The Eels of Dandenong Creek’ is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of community engagement in environmental education. The film not only highlights the fascinating lifecycle of the short-finned eel, but also sheds light on its cultural significance to Australia’s Indigenous nations and the broader consequences of pollution. While the film focused on Dandenong Creek, it also touches on issues affecting creeks and waterways across Victoria and the eastern seaboard.

At the heart of this project was our commitment to education, and it’s humbling to see the impact of our work in raising awareness about the eels and the challenges they face. Many were unfamiliar with this incredible species, and through this film, we were able to share their story, emphasizing how urbanization and pollution affect their habitat.

In May 1999, a group of locals, concerned about the ongoing degradation of Dandenong Creek due to channelisation and environmental neglect, came together to take action. Motivated by a shared desire to restore and protect the creek’s natural habitat, they founded the group. Their goal was to address the ecological damage and engage the community in conservation efforts to ensure the creek’s long-term health and sustainability.

We focus on practical, hands-on activities like planting indigenous flora, managing environmental weeds, and improving water quality, with a strong emphasis on creating long-term ecological outcomes.

FFDC is unique in its holistic approach, combining education, citizen science, and advocacy to empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds to participate in conservation. Our inclusive and collaborative nature fosters a sense of community ownership, where members not only contribute to environmental efforts but also learn and grow alongside the creek.

Additionally, our longstanding dedication—since 1999—to restoring Dandenong Creek has allowed us to build strong relationships with local councils and other stakeholders, creating a lasting impact on the creek’s health while inspiring other groups to take action in their own communities.

FFDC collaborates with a range of organizations and individuals to improve the health of the creeks that sustain life in our region. We focus our time, expertise, and energy on the broader catchment area of Dandenong Creek, including its tributaries from the Liverpool Road Retarding Basin in Boronia to the Boronia Road bridge in Wantirna.

The section of Dandenong Creek we work to enhance lies on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation, whom we acknowledge as the Custodians of this land. Dandenong Creek holds significant cultural importance to Aboriginal heritage, and we strive to ensure these values and perspectives are reflected in our efforts to protect and restore the creek and its tributaries.

FFDC is committed to ensuring that our sites and activities are accessible to all. We offer inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in our environmental restoration efforts. Our events, including planting and habitat creation, are designed to be accessible, with locations and activities suitable for individuals with different physical abilities. We welcome everyone to join our community, whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just beginning to learn about conservation. Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where all individuals can contribute to and benefit from the restoration of Dandenong Creek.