Danks Street Biolink Review and Renewal

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is Council undertaking a review of the Biolink?

  Council is undertaking a review of the Danks Street Biolink to ensure the planting continues to perform well as a high‑quality urban habitat and delivers the best possible outcomes for the community. A contribution from the Victorian State Government Department of Transport and Planning has enabled Council to assess how the Biolink is functioning now that the initial planting is established. 

  The review allowed Council to engage specialist ecological advice to better understand how the existing planting supports wildlife, and where improvements could be made. This included advice on habitat structure for small birds and pollinators, access to fresh water for fauna, soil and mulching practices, and opportunities to strengthen biodiversity outcomes over time. 

  By reviewing the Biolink and applying this expert advice, Council can build on the original community‑led planting, refine the design, and guide targeted improvements that enhance habitat value, resilience and long‑term sustainability. This ensures the Biolink continues to mature as a healthy, functional green space that benefits both wildlife and the local community. 

• How does this project fit with Council’s strategic objectives?

  The Danks Street Biolink review and renewal project directly supports Council’s strategic objectives under both the Urban Forest Strategy 2024–2040 and the Biodiversity Action Plan.

  The Urban Forest Strategy identifies the urban forest as a critical asset supporting climate resilience, biodiversity, canopy cover and community wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on improving habitat quality in constrained urban spaces such as streets and medians. The Strategy prioritises increasing vegetation diversity, strengthening wildlife corridors, and adapting planting to respond to climate change, population growth and urban heat. 

  The Biodiversity Action Plan further reinforces these objectives by calling for the enhancement of habitat corridors, increased use of locally indigenous species, and improved vegetation structure to support small birds, insects and other fauna across public land, including roadsides and medians. It also emphasises the importance of understanding existing biodiversity values and using expert advice to improve management and protection over time. 

  By reviewing and refining the Biolink, this project demonstrates how Council is: 

  • embedding biodiversity into asset management and urban greening initiatives 
  • improving the ecological function of existing green infrastructure 
  • supporting healthier, more connected urban ecosystems alongside community amenity 

  The project therefore delivers on Council’s long‑term vision for a healthy, biodiverse and connected urban forest, while maximising the value of previous community and government investment in greening Port Phillip’s streetscapes.

• Was there any community engagement on the project? What was the result?

  Community engagement showed strong overall support for the Danks Street Biolink and its role in improving biodiversity, greening the street and creating a more attractive and comfortable place for people. Participants consistently valued the existing planting and supported efforts to build on what is already there, rather than redesigning the Biolink from scratch.  

  Key themes from the feedback included support for: 

  • strengthening habitat and biodiversity outcomes 
  • retaining and caring for existing trees and plantings 
  • keeping the Biolink green, natural and vegetation‑led rather than hard‑landscaped 
  • retaining existing artworks and recognising their community value 
  • improving comfort and amenity through shade, seating and water for wildlife where appropriate  
  • The community also raised practical considerations, including the importance of: 
  • ongoing maintenance and plant establishment 
  • balancing new amenities with the primary role of the Biolink as a planted habitat corridor 
  • ensuring changes feel sensitive to the surrounding neighbourhood and street character .

  This feedback has directly informed the project approach. As a result, Council has focused on refining and improving the existing planting through specialist ecological advice, retaining valued elements such as artworks, and prioritising vegetation health, habitat quality and long‑term resilience, with additional amenities considered where budget and site conditions allow 

  Read a full copy of the engagement report: Engagement Summary Report - Danks Street Biolink - December 2024

• What species are being planted on the Biolink?

  The species planted as part of the Danks Street Biolink have been carefully selected to support local wildlife while creating an attractive, resilient streetscape. The plant list was developed using specialist advice on habitat structure for small birds and habitat needs of local pollinators, with a strong focus on improving biodiversity outcomes.

  Wherever possible, the project prioritises locally indigenous plants — species that are naturally native to Port Phillip and the wider Melbourne area. These plants are best suited to local soil and climate conditions and provide familiar food and shelter for local fauna.

  Plant selection also considered how resources are available throughout the year. Across different sections of the Biolink, species were chosen to ensure there are flowers, seeds and shelter available in all seasons, supporting birds, insects and pollinators year‑round. This mix of trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers helps create layered, diverse habitat while also delivering shade, greenery and amenity for the community.

  The planting list, including notes on the flowering and seeding times of each species can be found in the Danks Street Biolink Planting Plan

• Why did advice focus on habitat structuring to support small birds?

  The advice focused on habitat structure because many small native birds need very specific types of vegetation to survive in urban areas. Research found that while the Biolink already has mature trees, it is missing dense, layered vegetation closer to the ground. Small birds like superb fairy‑wrens rely on low shrubs, grasses, leaf litter and fallen wood for feeding, nesting and shelter from predators. Without this structure, birds may avoid the area even if trees are present. 

  By creating more complex habitat — especially shrubs and vegetation between 0.5 and 2 metres high — the Biolink can better support small birds and the insects they feed on. These same improvements also benefit pollinators, reptiles and other wildlife. Because small birds are sensitive to habitat quality, designing spaces that work for them helps create healthier, more biodiverse urban green spaces overall. 

• What types of plants are needed to support small birds?

  Small birds need layers of different plants, not just trees. The advice found that many urban green spaces have tall trees and open grass, but are missing the smaller plants that birds rely on for everyday survival. To support small birds, planting needs to include a mix of ground covers, grasses, shrubs and small trees, each playing a different role. 

  Low plants such as native grasses, sedges and ground covers help support insects that birds feed on and provide cover while foraging. Dense shrubs between about 0.5 and 2 metres high are especially important, as they give small birds places to hide, rest and build nests, and help protect them from predators and larger aggressive birds. These plants are often missing in traditional park and streetscape designs.  

  Healthy bird habitat also benefits from natural ground features, such as leaf litter, mulch, fallen branches and logs, which increase insect life and create sheltered micro‑habitats. When these plant layers and features work together, they create a safe, connected “neighbourhood” of habitat that allows small birds to move, feed and breed successfully in urban areas like the Danks Street Biolink. 

• Why is native mistletoe being reintroduced to the Danks Street Biolink?

  Reintroducing native mistletoe will help make the Danks Street Biolink a healthier and more complete habitat for local wildlife. Native mistletoes are a key food source for birds, insects and pollinators, providing nectar, fruit and shelter, and helping create cooler, more complex tree canopies and more nutrient rich soils under host trees. Ecological advice confirms that native mistletoe does not harm healthy native trees, as Australian trees have evolved to live alongside these species. 

  Mistletoes are known as hemiparasites, meaning they take some water and nutrients from other plants but still make their own food. Native mistletoes grow on trees and large shrubs, while other native hemiparasites, like Quandong, grow in the ground and connect to the roots of grasses and plants.  

  Advice for the Biolink found that more suitable host trees are needed before mistletoe can be reintroduced. New tree planting has therefore focused on species that can support mistletoe in the future. Mistletoe inoculation will be carried out gradually over several years as these host trees establish, ensuring the urban forest remains healthy, balanced and resilient.

• What are Cockitroughs and will they attract mosquitoes?

  Cockitroughs are specially designed wildlife watering stations that provide a safe, reliable source of fresh water for birds and other urban wildlife. They were developed by the Town of Victoria Park in Western Australia and are used by councils across Australia to support birdlife, particularly during hot and dry periods.  

  Cockitroughs are designed not to attract mosquitoes. They use a plumbed or automated refill system that regularly refreshes the water, preventing it from becoming stagnant. The shallow drinking platforms allow birds to drink easily while encouraging water turnover, which greatly reduces the conditions mosquitoes need to breed. Unlike bowls or still water containers, Cockitroughs do not hold warm, unmoving water for long periods. 

  Specialist habitat advice for the Danks Street Biolink identified access to fresh water as an important missing resource for small birds and other wildlife, particularly in urban areas where natural water sources are limited. Providing reliable, clean water helps birds cope with heat, supports foraging nearby, and increases the likelihood that high‑quality habitat plantings are used by wildlife rather than bypassed.  

  By combining well‑designed watering stations like Cockitroughs with improved vegetation structure, the Biolink can better support birds, insects and other fauna while remaining safe, low‑maintenance and appropriate for a busy public space.

  More information can be found on the Town of Victoria Park website: Cockitrough® (Bird Waterers)