By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
HISTORY, tradition and local inhabitants of Casey’s nature reserves are now more accessible than ever.
The City of Casey has installed 13 new informative signs at Hill Top Nature Reserve in Cranbourne North, Blind Bight Nature Reserve and Woodlot Lane Nature Reserve in Tooradin as part of their bushland entrance signage program.
Traditional owners, wildlife and flora and fauna have been detailed in the informational signs.
The touch of history means visitors can read up on the reserves’ vegetation and inhabitants of the land including the southern brown bandicoot, swamp wallaby and shorebirds.
City of Casey Mayor Mick Morland encourages all residents to explore the natural landscapes and check out the new signs.
“Council’s nature reserves provide unique environmental and recreational experiences for residents to enjoy and they have now been enhanced by the installation of these new signs,” Cr Morland said.
One of the signs at Sierra Estate’s Hill Top Nature Reserve at Mannavue Boulevard pays respect to the former landowner John Petzke, whose ashes were scattered at the bottom of a large manna gum tree within the reserve.
Cr Morland said the council was approached by local resident Albert Middleton with a request to honour John at the site.
“John and his family lived on the property that is now known as Hill Top Nature Reserve between 1978 and 2008, and we were more than happy to work with John’s family to create a commemorative sign in his memory,’ Cr Morland said.
John’s family scattered his ashes under the gumtree when he passed away in 1997, as the tree represented his love of life and it overlooked the property he loved so dearly.
