New life for creek

By Casey Neill
MONBULK Creek is a picture of health following a $250,000 make-over.
Melbourne Water began restoring almost two kilometres of the creek between Belgrave Lake Park and Bellbird Street in June.
Workers removed invasive weeds including tree tobacco, sweet pittosporum and willow and planted almost 5000 natives.
Waterways general manager Chris Chesterfield said the weed removal would improve water quality and creek flow.
“The dense canopy of willows, invasive roots and heavy leaf fall can smother our waterways and lead to reduced habitat and food for fish and platypus,” he said.
Melbourne Water Waterways Alliance project manager Mark Coffey said improving platypus habitat was the project’s main focus.
Their numbers have dwindled in the area over the past 10 years due to low creek flow caused by the drought, and dog and fox attacks.
“However, there’s still a significant population here and there’s still many reasons why the habitat remains important,” he said.
“Water health in this system, particularly if we’re looking at if for platypus, is about restoring the near stream-side vegetation.”
Several landowners along the creek are also participating in Melbourne Water’s Stream Frontage Management grant program to help protect the waterway’s health.
Bellbird Street resident Doug Kinnear’s property adjoins the creek.
He will be involved in maintaining the improvements on his land.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s early days but it’s looking good already.”
The Waterways Alliance will help maintain the area over the coming years with help from Shire of Yarra Ranges, Parks Victoria, the Friends of Colby Drive and The Friends of Monbulk Creek – Belgrave Lake Group.