The Green Line, a 37 kilometre-long strip of former railway line from Koroit to Minhamite, might not be a lush rainforest but Ms Mill believes education about its critically endangered native grasslands and woody grasslands will lead to greater appreciation of its environmental importance.

The Green Line was one of the few remnants of the massive woody grassland which the south-west was before white settlement and researchers said the strip contained some of the best vegetation of its type in Victoria, she said.

Ms Mill, the coordinator of the local Basalt to Bay Landcare Network that began the Green Line project in 2012, was heartened by the response on Thursday by the land’s owner, VicTrack, when it saw the rehabilitation done on the land.

VicTrack environment manager Lyndall Gibbs said she was impressed with the work done so far.

The green strip of remnant vegetation was in stark contrast to the heavily cleared farmland that adjoined much of the line, Ms Gibbs said.

“It is an important biolink within the region,” she said.

The rehabilitation work, which has also involved Moyne Shire Council and Green Army members, has so far included the removal of pine trees, gorse and silver poplars, fencing and the identification of native flora and fauna in the area.

Basalt to Bay also plans to work with the Country Fire Authority and La Trobe University to do burn offs to reduce introduced plants and stimulate the growth of native grasses.

VicTrack, through a partnership with Landcare Australia, has so far provided $30,000 funding for the Green Line project and is considering an application for a further $30,000 in 2016-2017.

Ms Mill hoped the Green Line would encourage surrounding landholders to plant shelter belts to connect to the line and said there had been a positive response so far from some landholders.

She said there were no plans to make the line into a walking or bike track and its role was as a vegetation corridor.