FRIENDS OF THE MARIBYRNONG VALLEY

The Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley is an incorporated community group which, through political lobbying, networking with other groups, community education, and practical environmental programs, seeks to protect the natural heritage, biodiversity and environmental health of the Maribyrnong Valley from Keilor to Port Phillip Bay.

Melbourne's Living Museum of the West provides important resources to FMV, both office and archival facilities and current information as well as being a hub for networking with other groups.

Currently, most of FMV's efforts are directed at preventing the destruction of the pre-eminent biodiversity site in the western region of Melbourne, the Baldwin Avenue Grasslands in Sunshine North. This is an area of Western Basalt Plains Grassland (Australia's most endangered ecosystem, reduced to 0.1% of its former extent).

Our efforts are mainly directed at ensuring that various parts of State and local government make decisions as directed by applicable legislation, such as the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Local Government Act.

Gordon Duncan