As construction activities are soon to start in several areas, the project builder is working closely with the municipality in salvaging vegetation from the freeway alignment which will be used to enhance local reserves.

Abigroup has been salvaging plants in conjunction with local environmental groups since May in a bid to save species covered by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (FFG) permit, which grants the project permission to clear native vegetation, collect seed for propagation, salvage and translocation.

Peninsula Link project spokesperson Carol Bartley said despite the majority of plant colonies within the freeway alignment are not listed as having any official conservation significance, the project acknowledges they are of great importance to the Frankston community.

"There are excellent opportunities to improve local parks and reserves by translocating non-threatened plant species.   In particular, areas like the Willow Road wetlands partially affected by project have orchid species and tree hollows that have benefited from these salvage activities,” Ms Bartley said.

Council’s Acting Environment Manager, Craig Hinton, said some of the plants rescued from Belvedere will be directly transferred to the adjacent bushland in locations suitable for the species and a portion transferred to Council’s Indigenous Nursery until the next planting season when they will be returned to the reserve.   “These two options ensure a large proportion of the rescued plants will form a viable population elsewhere,” said Mr Hinton. 

Horticultural students from Sages Cottage in Baxter helped council rangers remove colonies of wetland grasses and shrubs from the works corridor.   Daniel Idczak, who runs the horticultural and land conservation education program, said: “The relocation exercise has given the students both practical experience and a valuable opportunity to learn first-hand from the rangers.”