Inaugural Biodiversity Week to celebrate Ballarat's natural wonders

Get ready to go wild about Ballarat's biodiversity!

Ballarat Biodiversity Week is just around the corner, bringing a week-long celebration of the natural environment that makes Ballarat such a special place to live.

Being held for the first time, Ballarat Biodiversity Week will run from August 1-7 and is an initiative from Ballarat’s environmental community and the City of Ballarat’s Sustainable Environment team.

It will culminate in an action-packed week filled with more than 40 different events to showcase Ballarat’s plants, animals, waterways, landscapes, and people.

Most events are free or low-cost and are led by Ballarat's many community groups that share a passion for nature.

The event spawned from the City of Ballarat’s close working relationships with local environment groups, who expressed a desire to highlight their work and celebrate Ballarat’s biodiversity with the broader community.

It also marks two years since the adoption of the City of Ballarat Biodiversity Strategy: Healing Country Together and the 10th anniversary of Woowookarung Regional Park.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the entire week promised to be one giant celebration.

“We're proud to launch the inaugural Ballarat Biodiversity Week and bring together so many organisations, experts and passionate community members for this exciting celebration,” she said.

"It's a chance to discover new places, learn something new and deepen our appreciation of the natural assets that contribute so much to Ballarat's identity and liveability.

"Whether you're a lifelong nature lover or simply curious about the environment around you, there's something in this program for everyone."

The program has been designed to be as accessible as possible, with many events suitable for all weather conditions and a range of indoor options available.

The City of Ballarat has also produced a 36-page program featuring detailed information about the week's events.

The program can be downloaded from the Sustainable Environment page on the City of Ballarat website, with hard copies also available upon request at the Phoenix Customer Service Centre, Visitor Information Centres, community hubs, and libraries.

Key Ballarat Biodiversity Week events not to be missed

Look how far we’ve come: Ballarat’s biodiversity story

Saturday 1 August to Sunday 9 August, 10am-4pm, Ballarat Town Hall

Ballarat's landscapes have been shaped by Caring for Country, transformed by extraction and gradually restored through community care. Through powerful images and stories of loss, action and recovery, this exhibition explores the city's biodiversity journey and celebrates the generations of people whose stewardship and collective efforts have helped nature return and thrive.

Opening of the 10,000 Step Walk Trail

Wednesday 5 August, 2pm, 10,000 step trail - Soapys Creek Bridge, Woowookarung Regional Park

A new 10,000-step trail in Woowookarung Regional Park will be officially opened at the Soapys Creek Bridge off Katy Ryans Road, Canadian. The trail has been developed by the Friends of Canadian Corridor in partnership with Parks Victoria and forms part of celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Woowookarung Regional Park.

Ballarat Biodiversity Week BioBlitz

Available at any time at any location

During Ballarat Biodiversity Week, residents, schools, community groups and citizen scientists are invited to explore local parks, reserves, waterways and backyards and record plants, animals and fungi using iNaturalist. Simply take a photo, upload it to the iNaturalist app and help build a picture of the biodiversity that exists across Ballarat.