Endangered plants thriving with protection at Glenmaggie

New monitoring shows targeted protection at Gippsland Water's Glenmaggie biodiversity site is helping endangered Downy Zieria recover from browsing by deer and wallabies.

Gippsland Water installed fencing around Zieria cytisoides (Downy Zieria) in April after trail cameras captured deer and wallabies browsing the plants.

More than four months of monitoring has since confirmed the fencing is preventing further browsing and disturbance.

Gippsland Water staff used advanced image-analysis software to review more than 500 camera images and identify animals that may otherwise have been difficult to detect.

The monitoring also found the protected Downy Zieria population was in better health, providing an encouraging sign that the targeted protection is working.

Downy Zieria is an endangered shrub native to eastern Victoria, with soft, hairy leaves that have a citrus scent.

The Glenmaggie biodiversity site also provides habitat for other endangered plants, including Olearia tenuifolia (Shiny Daisy-Bush) and Enchinopogon caespitosus (Bushy Hedgehog Grass).

For more information about Gippsland Water's biodiversity management, visit www.gippswater.com.au/biodiversity.