Yan Yean Water Supply System Conservation Management Plan Volume 6: Appendices

Final May 2007

Prepared for Melbourne Water

© Context Pty Ltd 2007 All rights reserved; these materials are copyright. No part may be reproduced or copied in any way, form or by any means without permission. Project Team: Context Pty Ltd - David Helms, Natica Schmeder, Chris Johnston, Jackie Donkin & Fae Ingledew

Godden Mackay Logan – Tony Brassil Historians – Lesley Alves & Helen Doyle

Context Pty Ltd 22 Merri Street, Brunswick 3056 Phone 03 9380 6933 Facsimile 03 9380 4066

Email [email protected] www.context-pl.com.au

iii VOLUME 6: APPENDICES CONTENTS

APPENDIX 1 Yan Yean water supply system CMP & interpretation plan project management plan (March 2006) APPENDIX 2 Indigenous cultural heritage values of the Yan Yean system. Draft report for Context Pty Ltd (November 2005) APPENDIX 3 Yan Yean water supply system: A review of natural heritage values (December 2005 APPENDIX 4 Interpretation Plan M57 water main replacement project (2006)

PREFACE This is Volume 6 of the Conservation Management Plan for the Yan Yean water supply system. The Yan Yean system CMP comprises six volumes as follows:

Volume 1: Executive Summary Volume 1 provides a summary of the study methodology and the key findings and recommendations. Volume 2: History Volume 2 provides an explanation of the historic development of the Yan Yean system within the context of the historic development of Melbourne and its water supply. It takes a thematic approach, drawing on the key themes set out in existing histories of the Yan Yean system such as Yan Yean. A history of Melbourne’s early water supply and Vital Connections. Melbourne and its Board of Works 1891-1991, and also looks beyond Victoria to the development of water supply systems in other parts of Australia during the nineteenth century. Volume 3: Heritage assessment Volume 3 provides an assessment of the cultural significance of heritage places associated with the Yan Yean system, and concludes with a statement of significance for the whole of the Yan Yean system. Volume 4: Conservation policy The history in Volume 2 and heritage assessment in Volume 3 provides the basis for the conservation policies and management strategies in Volume 4, which includes recommendations to manage the heritage values of the Yan Yean system and implement the CMP. Volume 5: Heritage place and Volume 5 contains place records for all of the heritage places precinct citations associated with the Yan Yean system, which a detailed history, physical description, photographs and statement of significance. The place records are derived from the Melbourne Water Yan Yean system HERMES database. Volume 6: Appendices Volume 6 contains the following reports that provide background or additional information: Yan Yean water supply system CMP & interpretation plan project management plan (March 2006) Context Pty Ltd Indigenous cultural heritage values of the Yan Yean system. Draft report for Context Pty Ltd (November 2005) Heritage Insight Yan Yean water supply system: A review of natural heritage values (December 2005) Ecology Australia Interpretation Plan M57 water main replacement project (2006) Context Pty Ltd.

v VOLUME 6: APPENDICES

Figure 1 The Yan Yean system (As reproduced in Dingle & Doyle 2003:34)

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APPENDIX 1

Yan Yean water supply system CMP & interpretation plan project management plan (March 2006)

Project Team:

Context Pty Ltd - David Helms, Jackie Donkin, Chris

Johnston & Natica Schmeder

Godden Mackay Logan – Tony Brassil

Historian – Helen Doyle

Ecology Australia – Andrew McMahon, Lawrie Conole

Heritage Insight – Natalie Paynter

Context Pty Ltd 22 Merri Street, Brunswick 3056 Phone 03 9380 6933 Facsimile 03 9380 4066 Email [email protected]

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Background & Brief 1 1.3 Approach 2 1.4 Project management and reference group 2 2 PROJECT SCOPING AND PLANNING 3 2.1 Contact with key stakeholders 3 2.2 ‘Desktop’ Review of Records 3 Historic records review 3 2.3 Site visit 4 2.4 Indigenous and natural values 5 Indigenous values 5 Natural values 5 2.4 Consultation with Melbourne Water 6 2.5 Project Management Plan 6 2.6 Project Reference Group 6 3 STAGE 1: ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 7 3.1 Historical analysis 7 3.2 Fieldwork 8 3.3 Creation of Heritage Inventory 9 3.4 Analysis 9 3.5 Assess significance 10 3.6 Project Reference Group 10 3.7 Outcomes 10 4 STAGE 2: DEVELOPING POLICY & INTERPRETATION PLAN 11 4.1 Review of other factors influencing policy 11 Meeting with Headworks Team 12 4.2 Develop and test policy options 12 4.3 Interpretation Plan 12 4.4 Project Reference Group 13 4.5 Stage outcomes 13 5 STAGE 3: DEVELOPING A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 14 5.1 Purpose 14 5.2 Project Reference Group 14 5.3 Outcomes 14 6 TIMEFRAME & MANAGEMENT 15 6.1 Key Dates 15 6.2 Support to be provided by Melbourne Water 15

6.3 Final report 16 6.4 Ownership and copyright 16 APPENDIX A – KEY STAKEHOLDERS 17

APPENDIX B – INDIGENOUS VALUES REPORT 2

APPENDIX C – NATURAL VALUES REPORT 3

YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose Melbourne Water appointed Context Pty Ltd in August 2005 to undertake a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Yan Yean Water Supply System (hereafter called Yan Yean). The purpose of this Project Management Plan (the Plan) is to guide the conduct of the study by: • Setting out the study methodology and providing a clear timetable and budget. • Identifying how community consultation will be achieved. • Identifying the project outcomes that will be achieved. The PMP also provides a summary of the findings and outcomes of a Scoping Stage, which was carried out from September to November 2005. This is discussed further in Chapter 2. The Yan Yean System is defined as the whole of the water supply system from the Silver Creek and Wallaby Creek catchment areas in the north, through to the original extent of pipe infrastructure in the Melbourne CBD.

1.2 Background & Brief The background to the Study is the following: • The Study has been requested by Heritage Victoria as a specific condition (Condition 2) of the Consent to Damage for the M57 Water Main issued to Melbourne Water for the current pipe replacement works (Consent No. C424). The condition reflects the need for a thorough understanding of the heritage values of the entire Yan Yean System in order to be able to make informed management decisions about any of its components. • Construction works have commenced and a requirement of the Consent is that monitoring be carried out by an archaeologist (Geoff Hewitt). It is expected that information about historic fabric within Yan Yean will be gathered during this monitoring, which can assist in the preparation of this Study. The CMP recognises that Yan Yean is an important and functioning element of the Melbourne Water network and the conservation policies will need to carefully balance conserving significance against the need to ensure that the system continues to meet appropriate standards now and into the future. Or, in the words of the NSW Heritage Office: Retaining the value of a heritage asset presents certain constraints and opportunities on development but should not be seen as a block to future development. If heritage significance is fully understood, then works can be proposed that achieve the item’s continuing use, including new development. Adaptation and development may in fact be inspired by and enhance heritage significance, or at least minimise negative impacts. On this basis, the Brief for the project specified the following key tasks: • Prepare an historical and physical analysis of Yan Yean (based on the published history plus supplementary research). • Assess the natural, historic and Indigenous significance of Yan Yean and the relative contribution of its components to its significance.

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• Develop conservation policies and a management strategy to guide the future conservation, use and development of Yan Yean in a manner that minimises impact on its significance. • Prepare, as a priority, an Interpretation Plan to guide the fulfilment of the requirements of the Heritage Victoria consent.

1.3 Approach The Study will be prepared in accordance with The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, and Heritage Victoria guidelines. The Register of the National Estate criteria will be used in the assessment of significance. The Study methodology is based upon the series of tasks set out in the brief, which have been refined following the preliminary investigation undertaken during the Scoping Stage. A description of the Scoping Stage and its outcomes and findings is provided in Chapter 2. On this basis, the Study includes the following key stages, which form the basis of the main chapters in this Plan: • Stage 1: Assessment of Significance (Chapter 3) • Stage 2: Developing Policy & Interpretation Plan (Chapter 4) • Stage 3: Developing a Management strategy (Chapter 5) On this basis, Chapter 6 sets out the overall timing and budget of Study. For each stage, the Plan sets out key tasks and responsibilities, meetings to be held and key outputs to be achieved. The approach set out in the Plan is intended to ensure that the Study will: • Achieve a good standard of documentation and assessment, and provide for a sound and comprehensive policy framework for the conservation and management of heritage places and precincts within the study area. • Actively engage key stakeholders so as to ensure that there is support and ‘ownership’ for management and policy recommendations made by the Study.

1.4 Project management and reference group The Study will be managed by Paul Balassone of Melbourne Water. The project has a Reference Group, which will be consulted at key stages of the Study. The Project Reference Group comprises the following people: • Paul Balassone • David Helms, Context Pty Ltd • Jeremy Smith, & Joanne Day, Heritage Victoria Four Project Reference Group meetings will be held as follows: • An inception meeting at the commencement of the Stage 1. • At the end of Stage 1 • At the end of Stage 2 • At the end of Stage 3

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2 PROJECT SCOPING AND PLANNING In order to gain a better appreciation of the scope of the Study the first step was to make a preliminary assessment of the places and features associated with Yan Yen in order to establish priorities for research and investigation during Stage 1. This included: • An initial site inspection of the whole of the Yan Yean system • ‘Desktop’ reviews of the available archaeological and historical source material related to Yan Yean. This preliminary research and investigation was carried out during October and November 2005. The project scoping enabled the tasks described by the Brief to be refined and enabled development of a detailed budget for each component of the project, and this Project Management Plan. The initial project scoping considered all potential heritage values – that is historic, Indigenous and natural values. However, in commissioning this project Melbourne Water has chosen the option of limiting the investigation into Indigenous and natural heritage values during Stage 1 of the CMP to preliminary research, which will be captured as an overview statement in the CMP. At the end of this stage, a Project Reference Group was established to provide technical assistance and advice during the subsequent stages of the study.

2.1 Contact with key stakeholders The first task was to contact key stakeholders to inform them about the preparation of the CMP, as well as the related project replacing sections of the Yan Yean water supply system between South Morang and Preston (a distance of 10 km). It explained that Context would be preparing a CMP to establish a management framework that would ensure ongoing protection of the heritage values Yan Yean represents to stakeholders, covering the entire Yan Yean system from the Wallaby Creek catchment areas to the north, through to the original extent of the pipeline network in the Melbourne CBD. A letter explaining the works and CMP was sent by Melbourne Water to a total of 19 organisations, including the Councils along the Yan Yean system, Heritage Victoria, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, and local historical societies. As well as informing the stakeholders of the construction works and CMP, it requested their input into the process to ensure their interests were appropriately addressed. As a result of this letter, a number of people and organisations have expressed interest in the Study (They are listed in Appendix A). They would like to be kept informed of its progress and, in some cases, have offered assistance in undertaking research or providing information about Yan Yean.

2.2 ‘Desktop’ Review of Records

Historic records review Historian, Dr Helen Doyle, co-author with Tony Dingle of Yan Yean: a history of Melbourne’s early water supply (Melbourne 2003), prepared a summary guide to the historic records available pertaining to the Yan Yean water supply system. This guide gives an overview of archival sources at the Public Records Office of Australia, the Melbourne University Archives, the State Library of Victoria maps and manuscripts collections, state and local government organisations (Parks Victoria, Historic Places Branch, local

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Councils), Melbourne Water, and others, as well as a bibliography of primary and secondary sources available at libraries. Helen also indicated the accessibility of the archival records and the specific subjects they pertain to. The research indicates that although most nineteenth century records appear to be available, access to some records (particularly for twentieth-century works) could require additional time to sort out.

2.3 Site visit An initial field inspection of key features within Yan Yean was held on 14 October 2005 to allow the consultants to gain an appreciation of the system as a whole and to establish priorities for detailed surveys during Stage 1. It was attended by: • David Helms, Senior Heritage Consultant, and Natica Schmeder, Heritage Consultant, of Context. • Tony Brassil, Associate of Godden Mackay Logan, an expert in industrial heritage. • Jeremy Smith, Archaeologist, of Heritage Victoria (a key stakeholder). • Paul Balassone, Project Manager, and vehicle operators, of Melbourne Water. The group met in the morning at the Preston Reservoir and inspected a reservoir and buildings there. They then continued northward by car, stopping at key heritage features along the system, including: • Junction Basin at Reservoir • Bluestone bridge over Darebin Creek • A decommissioned valve house at end Wright Court, Mill Park • Morang/Pipehead Reservoir site (McDonalds Road) • Plenty River Pipe Bridge. At Yan Yean Reservoir they were joined by the Indigneous and Natural values consultants. From here they continued along the system following Clearwater Channel to Toorourrong Reservoir, then the Jacks Creek Diversion Channel to the Cascades, and then the Wallaby Creek Aqueduct to Wallaby Weir. The final section comprising the Silver Creek Aqueduct was not inspected. The site visit resulted in the following observations and conclusions about Yan Yean. • The system as a whole is remarkably intact and retains a significant amount of original or early fabric. Much of this fabric, particularly in the section above Yan Yean reservoir, remains in use and where it has been decommissioned it usually remains in-situ in various states of repair. • The existing Yan Yean history by Doyle & Dingle contains much of the basic information about the construction of key elements of Yan Yean up to the middle of the twentieth century. The detail that is missing relates to modifications to Yan Yean from the mid-twentieth century on-wards (such as the installation and replacement of pipes and the decommissioning of various elements. Other specific items that require further research include the origins of the drystone walls and tree plantations (usually Sugar Gums) flanking the pipe track in various locations. As noted above, records about this period of development are available, but have not been sorted.

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2.4 Indigenous and natural values The preliminary investigation into Indigenous and natural values during the Scoping stage was to enable an understanding of what resources would be required to: • Prepare an overview statement of Indigenous or natural values as part of Stage 1. In this case, a small amount of additional desktop research will be required to develop an overview for incorporation into the CMP as part of the overall assessment of the values of the system • Undertake a comprehensive assessment of Indigenous and natural values for the whole of Yan Yean, including the Wallaby Creek catchment, based on field survey and detailed research and consultation. This would be undertaken as a separate, future project. The observations and conclusions for Indigenous and natural values is provided below.

Indigenous values Indigenous heritage values are an important component of Yan Yean and a component of the scoping task was to identify the extent and type of research and consultation required. Some previous work had already been undertaken to investigate these values as part of the present M57 replacement works and during previous archaeological surveys in the vicinity of the Reservoir and pipe track. The preliminary investigation of the Indigenous heritage values of Yan Yean involved the following tasks: • Preliminary desktop research, which included a review of the Archaeological Site Register at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, and review of existing archaeological reports and other literature. • Identifying gaps in the existing knowledge about the Indigenous heritage values of Yan Yean were identified. • The site visit to the Yan Yean System, as discussed above, on 14 October 2005. A copy of the report is included as Appendix B. The information gathered by the preliminary investigation into Indigenous values provides the basis for a summary statement of natural values to be prepared as part of Stage 1. This will require a small amount of additional work. In addition, Appendix B provides a methodology and budget if Melbourne Water should decide to prepare a more comprehensive management strategy for Indigenous values in future.

Natural values The preliminary investigations involved a desktop review of existing information on flora, fauna and habitats associated with Yan Yean including published and unpublished literature, information from relevant Department of Sustainability and Environment databases and discussions with appropriate Melbourne Water staff and other experts. This was complemented by the fieldwork carried out on 14 October and again on 29 November 2005. A copy of the report about natural heritage values is included as Appendix C. The information gathered by the preliminary investigation into Indigenous values provides the basis for a summary statement of natural values to be prepared as part of Stage 1. This will require a small amount of additional work.

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The preliminary findings include: • The natural landscape of the Yan Yean system is of National – International significance. • In relation to fauna, the report concludes that ‘Despite the incomplete and partial fauna data extant for the system as a whole, and for its constituent parts, sufficient data exists to characterise the system’s fauna in broad terms. We regard the natural areas of the Yan Yean System as being of National significance for fauna’. In addition, Section 4 of the report in Appendix C provides a methodology and budget if Melbourne Water should decide to prepare a more comprehensive management strategy for Indigenous values in future. It identifies High (Priority 1), Medium (Priority 2) and Low (Priority 3) actions. The Priority 1 actions are: • Reptile survey – aqueduct and Yan Yean – Indicative cost $12,000 + • Vegetation quadrats, aqueduct and Yan Yean – IC $8-10,000 • West and pest animal inventory and management plan (e.g. current undocumented Sweet Pittosporum infestation in NE of Yan Yean) – IC $20,000+

2.4 Consultation with Melbourne Water Preliminary consultation with Melbourne Water was undertaken to: • Identify any other data sources. • Determine how the information and analysis (including mapping) will be linked to Melbourne Water’s GIS and asset management systems.

2.5 Project Management Plan This Project Management Plan (PMP) was prepared at the end of the Scoping Stage and will guide the conduct of the study. It will clarify the study process, community consultation, timetable, any methodological issues and the project outcomes to be achieved. The PMP is based upon the study outline in the original Context proposal and Brief, and refines the tasks set out in those documents on the basis of the investigation carried out during the Scoping stage. On this basis, it provides: • A summary of the findings of the Scoping stage. • A detailed description of the tasks to be undertaken during Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Study. • A detailed budget for undertaking the subsequent stages of the Study. A draft of the PMP was provided to the Project Manager who provided initial comments and feedback.

2.6 Project Reference Group The final task of the Scoping was to establish the Project Reference Group, which (as described in Section 1.4) will guide the undertaking of the Study in accordance with the PMP. A copy of the draft PMP will be circulated to members of the PRG for comment. The first meeting of the Project Reference Group will be held in late January 2006, when the PMP will be adopted.

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3 STAGE 1: ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This stage will involve gathering information about the place in order to understand its significance. It will include the following key tasks: • Historical analysis - the preparation of a thematic historical analysis of Yan Yean within the overall Melbourne Water system. • Fieldwork to identify components of the Yan Yean system. • Analysis of the evidence from research and physical investigation. • Assessing significance. In dealing with a large and complex item such as Yan Yean, the assessment process is applied simultaneously at two levels, that of the overall system and second, of the individual items/places. The significance of the overall system will relate directly and indirectly to most of the components of the system but individual components may have additional and unique aspects of significance not applicable to the larger context. The practical and usable approach is to compile an inventory of the individual places and items that form components of the system. On this basis, the history, description and significance established for the system as a whole will be set out in the main report, while the history, description and significance established for the individual components will be set out in the Inventory and may, where appropriate, refer back to aspects of history, and significance espoused for the system overall.

3.1 Historical analysis The purpose of this task will be to provide a thematic analysis and key development stages of Yan Yean, within the context of the overall Melbourne Water system. The historical analysis will provide a context for further investigation, where required, of the physical evidence that was inspected during initial fieldwork. The thematic structure of this analysis will have regard to the Australian Historic Themes Framework developed by the Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) and the Thematic List of Post Contact Aboriginal Places/Sites prepared in 1999 for Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and the AHC. It will also consider important themes identified in other histories in relation to Melbourne Water places such in Yan Yean. A history of Melbourne’s early water supply and Vital Connections. Melbourne and its Board of Works 1891-1991. This task will include: • Historical research. For the early history of the system, this will rely on secondary sources such as the recent heritage reports prepared for Yan Yean, and primary sources such as the historical records held by Melbourne Water and the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV), as well as any additional primary research identified during the scoping stage. Asset management records held by Melbourne Water documenting changes and maintenance carried out on infrastructure within Yan Yean will be vital. • Consultation with key stakeholders such as people associated with the construction, use and management of Yan Yean in the twentieth century. This will include recording oral histories from key people. On this basis, the key outcome of this task will be: • A thematic summary history of the development of Yan Yean with additional information about the changes/development of the system during the twentieth century. Depending on the outcome of the scoping stage this will include an overview

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of the natural and Indigenous history as well as the historic development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. • A preliminary inventory of places and components that contribute to the significance of Yan Yean. These places/components will be entered into an electronic database using the Local Place Heritage Database prepared by Heritage Victoria (LHPD - see section 3.3 below). This will initially include all places listed on existing heritage registers and inventories (e.g. AAV, Heritage Victoria etc.) as well as additional places identified by research and observed during fieldwork in the Scoping stage.

3.2 Fieldwork The fieldwork conducted during the Scoping stage allowed most of the key features of the system to be inspected and recorded by the consultants. As a consequence, most of these places will not need to be visited again. Further fieldwork will therefore be limited to: • Places not visited during initial fieldwork. • Key elements of primary significance where more detailed analysis is required, or • If the historical analysis identifies a new place associated with the historical development, which was not known about before. • If works associated with the M57 project reveals a place of potential significance. This work will draw heavily on the historical research and on assets records held by Melbourne Water and any other information about the location and condition of infrastructure within the study area. Information obtained during monitoring of the construction works by Geoff Hewitt will also inform this process. At this stage, it is envisaged that the places to be inspected during this Stage will include: Place Reason Yan Yean Reservoir The site was visited, but not inspected in detail during the Scoping complex stage Silver Creek Aqueduct Not inspected during Scoping Stage & Weirs Preston Reservoir Complex site – may require further investigation Merri Creek pipe Not inspected during Scoping Stage bridge Any sites identified As required. during construction works

The fieldwork undertaken during Scoping and this stage will involve ‘ground truthing’ to confirm the existence, condition and integrity of the places identified by the historical research undertaken by the previous task. Significant places will be mapped using existing Melbourne Water base maps of the system. Where GPS units are referred to, the datum to be used will be GDA94.

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3.3 Creation of Heritage Inventory A heritage inventory of Yan Yean will be created, which lists all the features of significance. This will happen simultaneously with the two previous tasks. It is proposed that this will include individual records for the key components of the Yan Yean system as follows: • Silver Creek Weirs & Aqueduct • Wallaby Creek Weir & Acqueduct • The Cascades • Jacks Creek and Jacks Creek Deviation Channel • Toorourrong Reservoir • Clearwater Channel • Yan Yean Reservoir • Yan Yean Aqueduct • Pipehead Reservoir • Yan Yean pipetrack (Pipehead Reservoir to Preston Reservoir) • Preston Reservoir • Yan Yean pipetrack (Preston Reservoir to City) Places of individual significance within the above components will have an individual record if they are considered to be of individual significance or have unique characteristics. Such places could include: • Pipe bridges over Darebin Creek and Plenty River • Valve houses • The Clearwater Channel/Plenty River confluence • The Wallaby Creek Quarters complex. The Inventory will contain all information will be gathered during the historical analysis and fieldwork including history, description, condition, site location, photographs etc. to enable the status and potential significance to be assessed. Melbourne Water has recently been contacted by Heritage Victoria to become a pilot authority in the use of its in-house database/inventory known as ‘Hermes’. The database used for this project will either be ‘Hermes’ (depending on how far the HV pilot project has progressed) or the LHPD, which is compatible with and could readily be transferred to the Hermes database at the end of the project.

3.4 Analysis All the evidence gathered from the historical and physical analysis will be analysed to establish the sequence of development of the place, the surviving fabric associated with key stages and the context of the changes that have occurred. The analysis will be presented in the form of diagrams, plans or tables, wherever possible, to assist with interpretation.

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3.5 Assess significance The purpose of this task will be to assess the significance of Yan Yean. As discussed in the introduction to this chapter in making this assessment, it is recognised that Yan Yean is a complex place made up a series of connected and interrelated components. While some of these components and places within Yan Yean are of individual significance, they cannot (and indeed should not) be considered in isolation. Our approach will follow guidelines set out by Heritage Victoria using the Register of the National Estate (RNE) criteria. This will include: • An overall Statement of Significance, which will provide a summary of the significance of Yan Yean having regard to its historic, Indigenous and natural values. • Comparative assessment of Yan Yean in relation to other Victorian and Australian water supply systems (dependent on data availability). • An analysis of the relative significance of the components of Yan Yean using an agreed ranking (eg. exceptional, high, moderate or little significance, plus ‘intrusive’). The careful application of these categories is essential in terms of developing conservation policies as part of the next stage.

3.6 Project Reference Group One meeting will be held with the Project Reference Group toward the end of this stage. This will be in the form of a workshop to discuss the findings of the assessment, including the significance of Yan Yean and its components. Representatives from the Registrations team from Heritage Victoria will also attend this workshop.

3.7 Outcomes The outcomes of this stage will be: • A thematic historical analysis for Yan Yean. • An inventory of component places within Yan Yean, to be stored in the Yan Yean System database, as well as maps showing the location of places that can be integrated with Melbourne Water’s GIS system. • An overall statement of significance for Yan Yean, and for individual components, where appropriate. This will be in the format used by Heritage Victoria to enable it to be used, where appropriate, if the place is considered for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register. • Identification of places suitable for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register or Victorian Heritage Inventory. This will include a recommendation for the extent of registration. (Note: Permit exemptions will be developed following the completion of the next stage of the project, which will develop conservation policy – see section 4.5).

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4 STAGE 2: DEVELOPING POLICY & INTERPRETATION PLAN The purpose of this stage will be to develop policy that will guide the future use, management and development of Yan Yean. In developing policy, the requirements to conserve the significance of the place will be weighed against other factors that affect its future use, management and development. This will include the following steps: • Gathering information about the other factors that will influence policy. • Developing options and then identifying preferred options by considering their impact upon significance. In preparing this policy it is noted that the significance of Yan Yean or any component will not prevent Melbourne Water from taking unavoidable action, even if it will impact upon significance. In the final analysis the manager has to weigh cultural significance against other management factors. The policy will set out how this is to be achieved. In addition, as discussed at the outset of this report the preparation of an interpretation plan is a priority action to guide the fulfilment of the requirements of the Heritage Victoria Consent. We therefore propose that the interpretation plan be developed concurrently with the development of policy during this stage. As previously described, the overall approach will be to develop ‘generic’ policies or statements using numerical or other identifiers which can be then simply and efficiently included on the inventory entry for the individual item, along with any other specific and individual policy statements relevant for that individual component of the system.

4.1 Review of other factors influencing policy The purpose of this task will be to compile information about other factors affecting the future use, development and management of Yan Yean. This will include consideration of the following issues: • The need to maintain the system as a safe and efficient functioning system that meets appropriate standards now and into the future. • The needs and resources of Melbourne Water. • External factors such as the statutory obligations of Melbourne Water. • The physical condition of the infrastructure, and the need for maintenance, repair or replacement. In particular, the policy will need to consider the need to continually maintain and upgrade the system to ensure that it meets present day and future needs and requirements. It is noted that this regime of maintenance, changes and upgrading has been a feature of the system since it was first constructed and some of the changes made over time are, in themselves, of interest as they demonstrate how the system has evolved since it was first constructed. While allowing this essential work to occur the policy should, for example, aim to ensure that any elements of primary or exceptional significance are conserved, or if they are altered or destroyed, appropriate records are made of them and changes are carefully recorded.

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Meeting with Headworks Team The identification of other factors will be carried out with the assistance of the Headworks Team within Melbourne Water, which is headed by Rowan Compagnoni. Headworks is responsible for the management of the reservoir structure and aqueducts, hence the importance of capturing their ‘core’ operational needs.

4.2 Develop and test policy options The purpose of this stage will be to identify and test policy options having regard to the significance of the Yan Yean System and the other factors identified by the previous task. The aim of this process is to ensure that any policies adopted by Melbourne Water are justifiable having regard to the relative significance of the element when weighed against the other considerations. The approach will be first to develop the overall or ‘generic’ policies for the Yan Yean system. This will address key issues such as: • Conservation • Management • New Development • Vegetation • Use • Interpretation (see below) A draft of the overall or ‘generic’ policies will be prepared for the consideration of the PRG who will be asked to provide comments or feedback. Specific consultation will also be undertaken with relevant sections within Melbourne Water such as the Headworks team as mentioned above.

4.3 Interpretation Plan Given that works have commenced the preparation of an interpretation plan is a priority as it will be essential in fulfilling the requirements of the Heritage Victoria consent. We therefore propose to produce interpretation policy and a plan for interpretation activities and implementation simultaneously. Interpretation is central to heritage conservation. It answers the following questions: why is this place significant; what is its history and why are we keeping it? Interpretation is not only about assessing significance but, crucially, is about communicating that significance to a variety of audiences. Communication is a two-way process and creating an interpretation strategy should involve stakeholder consultation wherever possible/practical. The interpretation plan will set out practical ways in which the interpretation strategy can be implemented. Methods are varied and can include ‘umbrella’ themes and stories communicated through exhibitions, trails, guided tours, talks, education packs and many others. At this stage, the interpretation plan will focus upon fulfilling the requirements of the Heritage Victoria consent. Further work and actions to develop a comprehensive interpretation plan for the whole of Yan Yean will be identified during Stage 3. A draft of the interpretation plan and policies will be prepared for the consideration of the PRG who will be asked to provide comments or feedback.

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4.4 Project Reference Group One meeting will be held with the Project Reference Group after it has been given an opportunity to consider the draft policies and interpretation plan and policies. The purpose of the meeting will be to consider any comments made and finalise and adopt the overall policies. When this is done, Context will prepare individual policies as required.

4.5 Stage outcomes The outcome of this stage will be conservation policies for Yan Yean incorporating the feedback and comments of the Reference Group. This will include: • An overall statement of policy or policy vision for the whole of Yan Yean. • Overall statements of policy under key headings of conservation, use, management, future development, interpretation (etc). • More specific policy statements for particular items, as appropriate. • An Interpretation Plan. • Recommendations for permit exemptions for places proposed to be included on the VHR. This will include ‘day to day’ exemptions covering general maintenance and operating requirements. Specific exemptions may also be developed where particular works are scheduled to occur within a defined time period.

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5 STAGE 3: DEVELOPING A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

5.1 Purpose The purpose of this stage will be to prepare a management strategy, which will outline guidelines and actions to use and implement the policy. This will identify, amongst other things: • A list of places that should be considered for inclusion on statutory registers. • Urgent or priority conservation works, particularly where places are at risk. • Further work to complete or implement the Interpretation Plan. • Places that require more detailed management plans to be developed. • Further work or investigation that is required. A draft of the management strategy will be prepared for the consideration of the PRG who will be asked to provide comments or feedback. Specific consultation will also be undertaken with relevant sections within Melbourne Water such as the Headworks Team as mentioned above.

5.2 Project Reference Group One meeting will be held with the Project Reference Group after it has been given an opportunity to consider a draft of the management strategy. The purpose of the meeting will be to consider any comments made and to finalise and adopt the final CMP report.

5.3 Outcomes The outcome of this stage will be the final CMP report, which will comprise three volumes as follows: • Volume 1 will provide an executive summary, the study purpose and methodology, and key findings and recommendations including the management strategy. • Volume 2a will contain the history, analysis and the assessment of significance. • Volume 2b will contain the conservation policies and management strategy. • A further volume ‘volume’ will be the Yan Yean System database which will contain place records for all places of potential significance as well as any information gathered for that place.

14 YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

6 TIMEFRAME & MANAGEMENT

6.1 Key Dates Melbourne Water would like this project to conclude by May 2006; however, this assumed a start date of August 2005. As previously discussed the Scoping Stage did not commence until October 2005. On this basis, the following table provides an outline of key dates: Task Timing Completion Date Project set-up by Context Completed Late September 2005 Scoping & PMP Completed December 2005 Review by Melbourne Water & Completed February 2006 Heritage Victoria* Completion of Stage 1 Within 8-10 weeks of ‘sign off’ of End April 2006 PMP by Melbourne Water* Review by Melbourne Water Allow two weeks Mid May 2006 Completion of Stage 2 Within 8 weeks of ‘sign-off’ of End July 2006 Stage 1 by Melbourne Water and Project Reference Group Review by Melbourne Water Allow two weeks Mid August 2006 Submission of first draft Within 2-3 weeks of ‘sign off’ of Early September 2006 CMP Stage 2 by Melbourne Water and Project Reference Group Review by Melbourne Water Allow two weeks Mid September 2006 Submission of final CMP Within two weeks of ‘sign off’ by End September 2006 Melbourne Water *Note: Allows for Christmas-New Year holiday break

6.2 Support to be provided by Melbourne Water Melbourne Water will provide the following information: • Copies of all relevant reports studies etc. • Copies of maps, plans etc. • Access, where possible, to historic information held by Melbourne Water • Information, where possible, about the condition of infrastructure. • Information about proposed future works. • Advice and information about the most suitable database format that will be compatible with Melbourne Water’s existing GIS database or equivalent. Melbourne Water will establish and support the activities of the Project Reference Group. Melbourne water will provide access to all parts of the study area, and will provide any OH&S training specific to Yan Yean and Melbourne water sites that is required for project team members prior to commencement of the project.

15 YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

6.3 Final report This process would culminate in the submission of a Final Report in A4 format, suitable for reproduction in black and white with maps in A4 or A3 size and a copy of the database. Six hard copies will be provided. An electronic version will also be provided.

6.4 Ownership and copyright It is suggested that ownership and copyright of the Study including all reports, maps, plans, photographs and the like supplied to the Melbourne Water by way of progress, draft, or final report or publication, (including the original of the final report) be vested in Melbourne Water. The consultant(s), and Melbourne Water shall have a perpetual, free license to use the material for its own purposes at any time in the future.

16 YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

APPENDIX A – KEY STAKEHOLDERS Letters were sent to the following key stakeholders informing them of the capital works to replace sections of the Yan Yean water supply system (Yan Yean) between South Morang and Preston, and that Context would be developing a Conservation Management Plan in accordance with the permit conditions issued by Heritage Victoria.

Frances O’Neill Lydia Wilson Heritage Victoria CEO Level 22 City of Yarra 80 Collins Street PO Box 168 Melbourne VIC 3000 Richmond VIC 3121

Jeremy Smith Michael Malouf Heritage Victoria Chief Executive Officer Level 22 City of Melbourne 80 Collins Street PO Box 1603 Melbourne VIC 3000 Melbourne Vic 3001

Stephen Hare Historical Societies: CEO National Trust of Australia Whittlesea Historical Society Inc (Victoria) P O Box 95 Tasma Terrace Thomastown VIC 3074 4 Parliament Place East Melbourne VIC 3002 Broadford Historical Society PO Box 114 Angela Jurevic Broadford VIC 3658 Director Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Trawool Historical Society and GPO Box 2392V Rural Fire Brigade Melbourne VIC 3001 55 Goulburn Street Seymour VIC 3660 Councils: Kilmore Historical Society Roger Sucic PO Box 206, Manager, Planning Services Kilmore VIC 3764 City of Whittlesea Civic Centre Seymour and District Historical Ferres Blvd Society Inc. South Morang VIC 3752 P.O Box 184, Seymour VIC 3661 Gary Cecil CEO Preston Historical Society Mitchell Shire Preston Library 113 High Street 36 Oakhill Ave Broadford Vic 3658 Reservoir VIC 3073

Michael Ulbrick Collingwood Historical Society CEO Inc Darebin City Council c/- Yarra Melbourne Libraries 274 Gower St 11 Stanton Street Preston VIC 3072 Abbotsford VIC 3067

17 YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

Richmond Historical Society Fitzroy Historical Society Lower Level PO Box 180 415 Church Street Fitzroy VIC 3065 Richmond VIC 3121 East Melbourne Historical Society PO Box 355 East Melbourne VIC 8002

2 VOLUME 6: APPENDICES

APPENDIX 2

Indigenous cultural heritage values of the Yan Yean system. Draft report for Context Pty Ltd (November 2005)

DESKTOP ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUES OF THE YAN YEAN SYSTEM

Draft Report for Context Pty. Ltd. and Melbourne Water

Novem ber 2005

Joanne Bell

HERITAGE INSIGHT 15b Stephenson St Richm ond. Vic. 3121 Ph 9429 4930 Fax 9429 4915 Em ail: [email protected]

Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Contents

1. Introduction ...... 3 1.1 The Study Area...... 3 1.2 Project Brief...... 3

2. Indigenous Com m unity Organisations...... 4 2.1 Com m unity Organisations under the Com m onwealth Legislation...... 4 2.2 Native Title...... 5

3. Desktop Research...... 6 3.1 AAV Heritage Registry Review ...... 6 3.2 Sum m ary of Previous Archaeological Investigations...... 6 3.3 Site Prediction M odel...... 8 3.4 Prelim inary Site Inspection...... 8

4. Further W ork...... 9 4.1 Archaeological Assessm ent of Forested Areas...... 9 4.2 Further W ork Required ...... 9

Bibliography...... 11

Figures...... 14

2 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

1. Introduction

Context Pty. Ltd. on behalf of M elbourne W ater has com m issioned Heritage Insight to carry out a desktop assessm ent of indigenous heritage values within the Yan Yean catchm ent. The assessm ent is required as part of the preparation for a Conservation M anagem ent Plan for the Yan Yean W ater Supply System (Figure 1). W hile the m ain focus of the Conservation M anagem ent Plan is the historic values of the system , the indigenous and natural values are also an integral part of understanding the significance of the catchm ent as a whole.

1.1 The Study Area

The Yan Yean System incorporates the entire catchm ent from W allaby and Silver Creeks in the north, through to the original pipe infrastructure in the M elbourne CBD (Context P/L project brief 2005:2). The study area is shown in Figure 1.

1.2 Project Brief

The Yan Yean W ater Supply System Conservation M anagem ent Plan Project will be carried out over three stages. The current desktop assessm ent has been carried out as part of an initial scoping and planning stage (Stage 1). Additional stages of the project are:

• Stage 2 – Understanding significance

• Stage 3 – Developing policy and interpretation plan

• Stage 4 – Developing a m anagem ent strategy

For the indigenous cultural heritage com ponent of the study, the following tasks are required as part of Stage 1:

• Review of the archaeological site registry at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV),

• Review of existing archaeological reports and other literature,

• Prelim inary consultation with appropriate indigenous com m unity organisations.

• Brief Site Inspection

• Identify gaps in existing knowledge about the indigenous heritage values and m ake recom m endations for future work.

3 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

2. Indigenous Com m unity O rganisations 2.1 Com m unity O rganisations under the Com m onw ealth Legislation

The study area falls within the cultural heritage boundaries of two indigenous com m unity organisations, specified in Schedule 4 of the Com m onwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (1984). These com m unities are:

• The Coranderrk Aboriginal Housing Co-operative Ltd, which is the successor organisation to the Coranderrk Aboriginal Koori Co-operative Ltd., and

• The W urundjeri Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc.

Currently, the Coranderrk Aboriginal Housing Co-operative Ltd. is reluctant to deal with cultural heritage m atters, including Consents.

There are two traditional owner groups in the cultural heritage area of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Housing Co-operative Ltd. These are the Taungurong Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the W urundjeri Tribe Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. An agreem ent exists between the two groups to share the m anagem ent of cultural heritage issues within this area, with the boundary between the two groups approxim ating roughly with the top of the G reat Dividing Range. It is advisable that cultural heritage m atters for the entire area be discussed with both the W urundjeri Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. and the Taungurong Clans Aboriginal Corporation.

It should be noted that although an agreem ent exists between the W urundjeri, Taungurong and Corranderrk, the Com m onwealth Act does not provide for voluntary withdrawal from statutory functions. W here it m ay be necessary to interfere dam age or otherwise disturb an indigenous archaeological site within the Coranderrk com m unity area, Consent applications m ust still be forwarded to the Coranderrk Aboriginal Housing Co-operative Ltd. If a response is not received within 30 days, then a Consent application can be lodged with the Victorian M inister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Applications for Consents to Disturb indigenous archaeological sites within the W urundjeri com m unity area m ust be forwarded to the W urundjeri Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. Contact details for all three organisations are provided below.

M s Debra Swindle Chairperson Corranderrk Aboriginal Housing Co-operative Ltd P.O . Box 1457 Healesville VIC 3777

Judy M onk Chairperson Taungurong Clans Aboriginal Corporation P.O . Box 295 Sebastopol VIC 3356

4 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

M egan G oulding Interim CEO W urundjeri Tribe Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated P.O . Box 516 N orth Carlton VIC 3054

2.2 N ative Title

The N ational N ative Title Tribunal website was reviewed by the consultants as part of the desktop research. There are currently no native title claim s or applications or indigenous land use agreem ents within the study area.

5 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

3. D esktop Research 3.1 AAV H eritage Registry Review

Pre-Contact Indigenous Sites

A search of the Heritage Register, m aintained by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria has identified four pre-contact indigenous archaeological sites within the Yan Yean catchm ent area. These are listed in Table 1 below.

AAV Site N o. Site N am e Site Type Location Significance 7922/0146 Coolam ert 1 Scarred Tree N orth of Cades High Rd, east of aqueduct 7922/0147 Coolam ert A.S. Scarred Tree N orth of Cades High 2 Rd, east of aqueduct 7922/0277 Yan Yean Isolated Artefact Reservoir Reservoir 1 m argin, southeastern shore 7922/0278 Yan Yean Isolated Artefact Reservoir Reservoir 2 m argin, eastern shore

Table 1: Sum m ary of registered pre-contact indigenous archaeological sites located within the Yan Yean catchm ent.

Post-Contact Indigenous Sites

A review of the historic places database, also m aintained by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, revealed no post-contact indigenous sites within the Yan Yean catchm ent.

3.2 Sum m ary of Previous Archaeological Investigations

The study area lies to the north of the Plenty Valley growth corridor. W hile very little archaeological assessm ent has been carried out within the study area itself, a large volum e of archaeological data has been generated from studies carried out within the growth corridor, which is situated to the south. Archaeological investigations, which have previously been undertaken in the region of the study area, are listed below (Figure 1). Those studies, which fall at least partly within the current study area, are highlighted.

Regional Studies

Five regional studies have been carried out.

• Ellender 1991a The Plenty Valley Corridor • Bird 1993 Archaeology of the Central Highlands Background Study • Sciusco 1997 N illum bik Shire Indigenous Heritage Study • M urphy 1995 N orth W estern W urundjeri Area: a regional archaeological survey. Stage 1 • M urphy 1996 N orth W estern W urundjeri Area: a regional Aboriginal archaeological heritage survey. Stage 2

6 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Local Studies

Eighteen localised studies have also been undertaken in the region of the study area, prim arily in response to proposed developm ent. These are focused in the area to the south of the study area, although one study has been carried out at Flowerdale in the north.

• Upcher 1990 Archaeological Survey for Aboriginal Sites: Yan Yean W ater Treatm ent Plant Project • Ellender 1991b Plenty G orge M etropolitan Park: Archaeological Assessm ent of Aboriginal Sites • Ellender 1994 The Aboriginal Heritage of the M ernda Area, Q uarry Hill, G ranite Hill and the M iddle Darebin Creek. • Ellender 1996 The South M orang Local Structure Plan Area: archaeological survey of Aboriginal Sites • Bell 2000a An archaeological survey of a proposed residential developm ent site, Yan Yean Rd, Doreen. • Bell 2000b Yan Yean Rd Planning Study • Ellender 2000 M onitoring of works for Aboriginal m aterial evidence and som e com m ents on the historical archaeological context at the Yan Yean Reservoir Dam , W hittlesea • Tulloch 2001a An archaeological survey of 1910 Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean. • Tulloch 2001b An archaeological survey of Lot 1025 Yan Yean Rd, Doreen. • M uir 2002 An archaeological survey of the Bond land, 995 Yan Yean Rd, Doreen. • Cham berlain & N icholls 2003 An archaeological survey of a proposed pressure m ain alignm ent, Cookes Rd, Doreen. • Luebbers 2003 Archaeological Survey Laurim ar Estate, Doreen. • N icolson & M atthews 2003 An archaeological survey for sewer infrastructure options, M ernda N orth. • M urphy & Am orosi 2003a ‘M ernda Township’ 1555 Plenty Rd, M ernda • M urphy & Am orosi 2003b Bicycle / W alking Path, Flowerdale Cultural Heritage Assessm ent.

• M urphy & Am orosi 2004 W oods Road, Yan Yean. Cultural Heritage Assessm ent. • Tulloch 2004 An archaeological survey at Bridge Inn Road, M ernda. • Bell (in press) Q uarry Hills and Darebin Creek Regional Parklands: Urban G rowth Area Integration.

7 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

3.3 Site Prediction M odel

In sum m ary, the results of previous archaeological investigations indicate that:

• The m ost likely site types to be located within the study area are scarred trees, low density artefact scatters and isolated artefact occurrences. • Low density artefact scatters and isolated artefact occurrences are only likely to be detected in areas of previous ground disturbance, i.e. where there is good ground surface visibility. • Cultural scarring on trees is likely only on m ature Eucalypts (greater than 200 years old), and predom inantly on Red G um s. • Stone artefact scatters are m ore likely to occur on hill tops, ridges and saddles, and close to tem porary or perm anent water resources, such as creeks or swam ps. • Stone artefact scatters are m ore likely to be denser and m ore significant the closer they are to perm anent waterways. • Sites are m ore likely to occur within 500m of the Plenty River, but within closer proxim ity to sm aller perm anent creeklines. • Stone sources (quarries) m ay occur in areas where there outcrops of suitable stone for the m anufacture of tools. Exam ples are underlying sedim entary rock exposed in creek or river valleys and outcrops of basalt or quartz on the volcanic plains. • Stone assem blages will be dom inated by waste flakes and have a low num ber of form al tool types. • Stone assem blages will be dom inated by silcrete, quartz and quartzite, and to a lesser extent, m ay include hornfels, chert, basalt and crystal quartz. • Stone artefact scatters are m ore likely to be surface sites rather than deeply buried stratified deposits, except along m ajor water courses where terrace system s have form ed.

3.4 Prelim inary Site Inspection

A prelim inary site inspection was carried out on 14th O ctober 2005 by N atalie Paynter and Joanne Bell, with other m em bers of the consultant team . The aim of the prelim inary site inspection was to fam iliarise ourselves with the study area terrain and inspect specific sections of the Yan Yean water supply system (the aqueduct network) in order to identify the extent and type of research and consultation which m ay be required in developing a com prehensive strategy for investigating the cultural heritage values of the catchm ent.

The site inspection revealed a num ber of areas of previous disturbance including road cuttings, channalization of creeks and areas of logging. These areas were particularly noted on the fringes of the study area. There is som e potential for the location of m ore intact landform s within the study area including areas of m ature eucalypts and older growth vegetation which m ay not have experienced m uch disturbance in the past.

8 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

4. Further W ork 4.1 Archaeological Assessm ent of Forested Areas

Archaeological surveys in forested areas have only been undertaken in earnest during the last 25 years. Prior to this, the m ajority of archaeological research was being carried out in coastal areas, where shell m idden sites were conspicuous and relatively com m on (Bird 1993). W ith increased urban expansion over the past 15-20 years, the focus of archaeological assessm ent has shifted to greenfields sites (existing or form er agricultural land), prim arily within the urban growth corridors on the outskirts of M elbourne. In response to such projects as the regional forest agreem ents and post-wildfire revegetation m anagem ent plans, forested areas are also being assessed for their indigenous cultural heritage values.

The conduct of archaeological assessm ents in rough terrain with dense vegetation is not without som e practical difficulties. Issues such as access restriction to specific areas of land and poor ground surface visibility are com m only encountered when conducting field surveys.

Surveys are often confined to opportunistic targeting of land which has adequate ground visibility as a result of disturbance or vegetation rem oval. O pportunistic surveys m ay not provide an adequate sam ple of landform s which are likely to contain archaeological sites, although they m ay provide a ‘reasonable’ sam ple of environm ental variation (Cosgrove 1990:41). The developm ent of a suitable research m ethodology and practical strategies for m anaging sites in forested areas, has been a concern since the 1980s (Bird 1993. See also, Byrne 1984, Egloff 1984, G eering 1982, Bowdler 1983).

The archaeological record suggests that indigenous archaeological sites do exist in the densely forested upland areas. It is im portant, therefore, that the sam pling strategy is designed to transcend the constraints of access and visibility. Current trends prefer an approach which favours targeting the ‘windows of visibility’ provided by unm ade roads, with tracks crossing a wide range of environm ents or landscape elem ents (Cosgrove 1990; Hall n.d.; Hunt 1993; Bell 1999).

4.2 Further W ork Required

In order to provide M elbourne W ater with a fully com prehensive conservation m anagem ent and interpretation plan, which includes an indigenous heritage com ponent, it will be necessary to carry out an archaeological assessm ent which identifies the indigenous cultural heritage values of the Yan Yean system . Tasks associated with this are set out below:

Conduct of additional background research, including a review of any further historical docum ents and local histories of the district which contain ethnographic inform ation about the use of the land within the study area by indigenous people and any oral history references from indigenous com m unities.

Subm ission of a Schedule 2 Survey N otification to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.

Conduct of a field assessm ent of the Yan Yean system with representatives from the W urundjeri Tribe Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. and the Taungurong Clans Aboriginal Corporation.

9 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Consultation with Taungurong and W urundjeri Elders regarding any oral history inform ation available for the study area.

Produce a report on the above work, in accordance with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria guidelines. The report will include an im pact assessm ent for any indigenous cultural heritage sites located during the investigation, and m anagem ent recom m endations of how these im pacts m ay be m itigated. The report will also provide recom m endations for any further investigations that m ay be required on the properties.

A budget breakdown for this work has been provided separately to the report.

10 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Bibliography

Bell,J. 1999 Dordordonga: Island in the Sky. Archaeology of the N ortheast Victorian Uplands. Unpublished BA Thesis. Dept. of Archaeology. La Trobe University.

Bell, J. 2000a An archaeological survey of a proposed residential developm ent site, Yan Yean Rd, Doreen. Report to Fisher Stewart. TerraCulture Pty. Ltd.

Bell, J. 2000b Yan Yean Rd Planning Study. Report to VicRoads. TerraCulture Pty. Ltd.

Bell, J. (in press) Q uarry Hills and Darebin Creek Regional Parklands: Urban G rowth Area Integration. Report to Ecology Australia and Shire of W hittlesea. Heritage Insight.

Bird, C. 1993 Archaeology of the Central Highlands Background Study. Report prepared for Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.

Bowdler, S. 1983 Aboriginal sites on the Crown tim ber lands of N ew South W ales. A report to the Forestry Com m ission of N ew South W ales.

Byrne, D. 1984 ‘A survey strategy for a coastal forest.’ In Sullivan, S. & S. Bowdler (eds) Site Surveys and Significance Assessm ent in Australian Archaeology. Research School of Pacific Studies. AN U: Canberra. pp.:61-70.

Cham berlain, M . & C. N icholls 2003 An archaeological survey of a proposed pressure m ain alignm ent, Cookes Road, Doreen, Victoria. Report for Yarra Valley W ater. TerraCulture Pty. Ltd.

Cosgrove, R. 1990 The Archaeological Resources of Tasm anian Forests: Past Aboriginal Use of Forested Environm ents. Dept. of Parks, W ildlife and Heritage: Hobart. O ccasional Paper N o. 27.

Egloff, B. 1984 ‘Sam pling the Five Forests.’ In Sullivan, S. & S. Bowdler (eds) Site Surveys and Significance Assessm ent in Australian Archaeology. Research School of Pacific Studies. AN U: Canberra. pp.:71-78.

Ellender, I. 1991a The Plenty Valley Corridor. An Archaeological survey of Aboriginal sites. Victoria Archaeological Survey O ccasional Report N o. 40. Dept. of Conservation and Environm ent.

Ellender, I. 1991b The Plenty G orge M etropolitan Park: the Archaeological Assessm ent of Aboriginal Sites. Report for the Board of W orks.

Ellender, I. 1994 The Aboriginal Heritage of the M ernda Area, Q uarry Hill, G ranite Hill and the M iddle Darebin Creek. Report for the City of W hittlesea.

11 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Ellender, I. 1996 The South M orang Local Structure Plan Area: an Archaeological Survey of Aboriginal Sites. Report for the City of W hittlesea Council.

Ellender, I. 2000a M onitoring of W orks for Aboriginal m aterial evidence and som e com m ents on the historical archaeological context at the Yan Yean Reservoir Dam , W hittlesea. Report to Snowy M ountains Engineering Corporation Ltd.

G eering, K. 1982 An Archaeological Assessm ent of the Snowy River M anagem ent Unit. Unpublished report for Kosciusko N ational Park.

Hall, R. n.d. Far East G ippsland Archaeological Survey. Draft report to the Victoria Archaeological Survey.

Hunt, P. 1993 Hinterland forests of East G ippsland: an archaeological survey of the East G ippsland forest m anagem ent area. Unpublished report for the Dept. of Conservation and N atural Resources, Victoria and the Australian Heritage Com m ission.

Luebbers, R. 2003 Archaeological Survey. Laurim ar Estate, Doreen, Victoria. Report prepared for Drapac Property. Luebbers & Associates.

M uir, S. 2002 An archaeological survey of the Bond land, 995 Yan Yean Road, Doreen, Victoria. Report for Intrapac Projects Pty. Ltd. Biosis Research.

M urphy, A. 1995 N orth W estern W urundjeri Area: a Regional archaeological Survey. Stage 1. Report to the W urundjeri Tribe Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. du Cros & Associates.

M urphy, A. 1996 N orth W estern W urundjeri Area. Stage 2. Regional Aboriginal Archaeological Heritage Survey. Report to the W urundjeri Tribe Land Com pensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. du Cros & Associates.

M urphy, A. & L. Am orosi 2003a ‘M ernda Township’ 1555 Plenty Road, M ernda. Cultural Heritage Assessm ent. Report to Earth Tech Engineering Pty. Ltd. Tardis Enterprises Pty. Ltd.

M urphy, A. & L. Am orosi 2003b Bicycle/ W alking Path, Flowerdale. Cultural Heritage Assessm ent. Report to Rod Sloan Consulting on behalf of M urrindindi Shire Council. Tardis Enterprises Pty. Ltd.

M urphy, A. & L. Am orosi 2004

12 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

W oods Road, Yan Yean. Cultural Heritage Assessm ent. Report to Reeds Consulting Pty. Ltd on behalf of Chain Enterprises Pty. Ltd. Tardis Enterprises Pty. Ltd.

N icolson, O . & L. M atthews 2003 An archaeological survey for sewer infrastructure options, M ernda N orth, Victoria. Report for M ontgom ery W atson Australia. Biosis Research.

Sciusco, L. 1997 N illum bik Shire Council Aboriginal Heritage Study. Report for the N illum bik Shire Council. du Cros & Associates.

Tulloch, J. 2001a An archaeological survey of 1910 Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean, Victoria. Report for the City of W hittlesea. Biosis Research.

Tulloch, J. 2001b An archaeological survey of Lot 1025 Yan Yean Road, Doreen, Victoria. Report for Coom es Consulting G roup. Biosis Research.

Tulloch, J. 2004 An archaeological survey at Bridge Inn Road, M ernda, Victoria. Report to Urbis on behalf of Plenty Valley Pty. Ltd. Biosis Research.

Upcher, C. 1990 Archaeological Survey for Aboriginal Sites. Yan Yean W ater Treatm ent Plant Project. Report to the Board of W orks.

13 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

Figures

14 Heritage Insight – Sum m ary Report for Yan Yean Catchm ent

15 YAN YEAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CMP

APPENDIX 3

Yan Yean water supply system: A review of natural heritage values (December 2005)

Yan Yean Water Supply System: review of

natural heritage values.

Project: 2005-79

Prepared for:

Context Pty Ltd

Ecology Australia Pty Ltd

Flora and Fauna Consultants

www.ecologyaustralia.com.au

[email protected]

88B Station Street, Fairfield,

Victoria, Australia 3078

Tel: (03) 9489 4191

Fax: (03) 9481 7679

This publication is copyright. It may only be used in accordance with the agreed terms of the commission. Except as provided for by the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of Ecology Australia Pty Ltd.

Document information

This is a controlled document. Details of the document ownership, location, distribution, status and revision history are listed below.

All comments or requests for changes to content should be addressed to the document owner.

Document Information

Owner Ecology Australia Pty Ltd

Author L.E. Conole & A.R.G. McMahon

J:\CURRENT PROJECTS\Yan Yean CMP 05-79\Report\Yan Yean Location catchment natural heritage values DRAFT.doc

Distribution David Helms Senior Heritage Consultant Context Pty Ltd

Document History

Status Changes By Date

Draft 0.1 First Draft L.E. Conole & 2/12/05 A.R.G. McMahon

Draft 0.1 Under change control ii Yan Yean Water Supply System: review of natural heritage values.

Contents

1 Introduction 5 1.1 Our understanding of the brief 5 1.2 Study area 6 1.3 Scope 6

2 Methods 7 2.1 Flora 7 2.1.1 Desktop review 7 2.1.2 Limitations 7 2.1.3 Significance 7 2.1.4 Terminology and Taxonomy 7 2.2 Fauna 8 2.2.1 Data review 8 2.2.2 Significance 8 2.2.3 Limitations 8 2.2.4 Nomenclature 8

3 Values 9 3.1 Flora 9 3.2 Fauna 11 3.2.1 Characteristics 11 3.2.2 Significance 14 3.3 Landscape 15 3.3.1 Characteristics 15 3.3.2 Significance 16

4 Discussion 22 4.1 Information gaps 22 4.1.1 Fauna 22 4.1.2 Flora 22 4.2 Proposed measures to address information gaps 23

5 References 24

6 Acknowledgments 26

Draft 0.1 Under change control iii Yan Yean Water Supply System: review of natural heritage values.

Tables

Table 1: Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) of the Yan Yean System 9

Table 2: Threatened Plant Species recorded from the Yan Yean System 11

Table 3: Faunal diversity within the Yan Yean system (from DSE 2004) 12

Table 4: Representation of listed threatened fauna species within the Yan Yean system 12

Table 5: Listed threatened fauna species from Wallaby Creek 12

Table 6: Listed threatened fauna species from the intervening aqueduct 13

Table 7: Listed threatened fauna species from Yan Yean 14

Table 8: Land tenure and management units within the Yan Yean Water Supply System 15

Table 9: Ratings of landscape significance from State biosites database (DSE 2005b) 16

Plates

Plate 1: Old-growth Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans forest, Wallaby Creek catchment (November 2005) 17

Plate 2: Toorourrong Reservoir (October 2005) 17

Plate 3: Old growth eucalypt forest, The Cascades, Wallaby Creek catchment 18

Plate 4: Old growth Messmate Stringybark, Wallaby Creek catchment 18

Plate 5: Sassafras trees on Wallaby Creek, Wallaby Creek catchment 19

Plate 6: Melaleuca scrub on Plenty River adjacent to Yan Yean aqueduct 19

Plate 7: Section of Yan Yean aqueduct near Plenty River 20

Plate 8: Yan Yean Reservoir viewed from reference area to the east 20

Plate 9: Lowland Snow Gum woodland, Yan Yean reference area 21

Plate 10: Old-growth Mountain Tea-tree stand, Wallaby Creek catchment 21

Draft 0.1 Under change control iv Yan Yean Water Supply System: review of natural heritage values.

1 Introduction

1.1 Our understanding of the brief

A consultant team, for which Ecology Australia Pty Ltd is providing natural heritage expertise and which is headed up by Context Pty Ltd, has been engaged by Melbourne Water to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Yan Yean Water Supply System.

In respect of natural heritage values we understand that:

The Study has been requested by Heritage Victoria as a specific condition (Condition 2) of the Consent to Damage for the M57 Water Main issued to Melbourne Water for the current pipe replacement works (Consent No. C424). The condition reflects the need for a thorough understanding of the heritage values of the entire Yan Yean System in order to be able to make informed management decisions about any of its components.

The CMP will recognise that Yan Yean is an important and functioning element of the Melbourne Water network and the conservation policies will need to carefully balance conserving significance against the need to ensure that the system continues to meet appropriate standards now and into the future.

In commissioning this project Melbourne Water has chosen the option of limiting the investigation into natural values to preliminary research, which will be captured as an overview statement in the CMP during Stage 2. Our tasks during Stage 1 – Scoping will therefore include:

Preliminary desktop research, which will include a review of published and unpublished literature, information from relevant DSE databases.

Discussions with appropriate Melbourne Water staff and other experts.

This will be used to identify gaps in existing knowledge about the natural (flora, fauna and habitat) values of the Yan Yean system.

A description of the tasks and budget required to prepare an overview statement of natural heritage values associated with the Yan Yean system for inclusion in the CMP during Stage 2 of the study. This description should be in the form of a brief report that is suitable for inclusion in the Project Management Plan and should provide a summary of the findings including:

A description of any additional research required.

An outline of any further consultation required.

An allowance for reviewing the final recommendations of the CMP to identify whether there is any potential conflict with areas of known or potential natural values.

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Recommendations for future work (ie. outside of the scope of Stage 2, which outlines what would be required for a more comprehensive assessment of natural values).

An estimate of the budget and timeframes associated with the above tasks.

1.2 Study area

The Yan Yean System is defined as the whole of the water supply system from the Wallaby Creek catchment areas in the north, through to the original extent of pipe infrastructure in the Melbourne CBD.

For the purposes of this assessment we have confined the analysis primarily to the natural areas in Melbourne Water’s holding in the Yan Yean Water Supply System, from Yan Yean Reservoir to the head of the Wallaby Creek catchment. Within that we have compartmentalised the study area into three parts:

Yan Rean Reservoir, surrounding parkland, and the Yan Yean North and South Reference Areas (hereafter Yan Yean);

The aqueduct and adjoining land between Yan Yean and Toorourrong Reservoir (hereafter the intervening aqueduct); and

The Wallaby Creek designated catchment area encompassing Toorourrong Reservoir, and including the Disappointment, Stony Creek and Joey Creek Reference Areas (hereafter Wallaby Creek).

1.3 Scope

Preliminary investigations will involve a desktop review of existing information on flora, fauna and habitats associated with the Yan Yean system. This will include published and unpublished literature, information from relevant Department of Sustainability and Environment databases and discussions with appropriate Melbourne Water staff and other experts. Initial fieldwork will be undertaken to evaluate issues relating to flora and fauna in the study area.

As an outcome of the preliminary investigation into natural values, information will be collected that can be used either to write a summary statement of values for inclusion in the CMP or to develop a more comprehensive strategy for further investigation.

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2 Methods

Site visits took place on 14 October and 29 November 2005.

2.1 Flora

2.1.1 Desktop review

Existing information was reviewed, including:

Flora records within the subject land (referred to as the Data Review Area – DRA) held in the Victorian Flora Information System, a state-wide database maintained by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE 2004a).

Department of Environment and Heritage Protected Matters Database (DEH 2004), using a 5 km radius search area.

Ecological Vegetation Class mapping/modelling of the area (both extant and pre-1750) (DSE 2003)

2.1.2 Limitations

This is a preliminary study, not all flora species on the property will have been detected and only indicative habitat scores are given for the study area. However, the overall flora values for the site can be determined.

2.1.3 Significance

Species of State and/or National significance are defined as those classified by DSE (2005) including those listed under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act).

2.1.4 Terminology and Taxonomy

An asterisk (*) preceding the plant is used to signify non-indigenous taxa, which are those that would not naturally occur in the particular habitat. A hash (#) is used to denote native plants that are not indigenous in the relevant vegetation types.

Plant taxonomy and the use of common names follows the accepted authorities – Ross and Walsh (2003) and DSE (2004b).

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2.2 Fauna

2.2.1 Data review

The Victorian Fauna Display (DSE 2004b), a CD-ROM version of the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW), was searched for a list of fauna species previously recorded from an area of 5 km radius centred over the study area. This search area is hereafter referred to as the fauna Data Review Area (DRA).

2.2.2 Significance

Species of State and/or National significance are determined by reference to DSE’s advisory list of threatened vertebrates for Victoria (DSE 2003a), listings under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) and the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and by reference to National Action Plans for vertebrates and invertebrates.

2.2.3 Limitations

This is a preliminary study, not all fauna species on the property will have been detected. This limitation is overcome to some extent through the information on species recorded from the DRA, sourced from the AVW database (DSE 2004b).

2.2.4 Nomenclature

An asterisk (*) preceding the species’ name is used to signify non-indigenous taxa, which are those that would not naturally occur in the particular habitat. The scientific names, common names and systematic orders of vertebrates follow Christidis & Boles (1994) and Schodde & Mason (1999) for birds, and the ‘Atlas of Victorian Wildlife’ for all other taxa.

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3 Values

3.1 Flora

The Yan Yean system links the vegetation and habitats of three bioregions: the ‘Highland – Northern Fall’ which includes the headwaters of Wallaby Creek, ‘Highlands – Southern Fall’ which includes the headwaters of the Plenty River and Toorourrong Reservoir, and the ‘Victorian Volcanic Plain’ which encompasses the Yan Yean Reservoir and catchment. The intervening aqueduct is largely within the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion.

The recent Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) mapping/modelling suggests eight EVCs for the Yan Yean system, including the iconic old growth Wet Forests of the Hume Plateau (Plates 1, 3, 4, 5) and the Grassy Woodlands of Yan Yean (Table 1, Plate 9). This total is likely to be conservative as during the brief field inspection two further EVCs were recorded:

• Riparian Scrub in the Wallaby Creek catchment – a tall shrubland of Mountain Tea-tree, including old growth examples, which dominate the minor gullies on the plateau (Plate 9).

• Grassy Dry Forest – extensive areas of this EVC on the Silurian Foothills in the north- east of the Yan Yean catchment.

Table 1: Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) of the Yan Yean System

EVC Conservation Status in the Bioregion Wallaby Aqueduct Yan Creek Yean

Cool Temperate Rainforest Vulnerable 9 — —

Wet Forest Least Concern 9 — —

Damp Forest Least Concern 9 — 9

Riparian Forest Least Concern 9 — —

Herb-rich Foothill Forest Least Concern in Highland Southern Fall, 9 — 9 Vulnerable on the Volcanic Plain

Heathy Dry Forest Least Concern 9 — —

Grassy Dry Forest Depleted — — 9

Valley Grassy Forest Vulnerable 9 — 9

Creekline Herb-rich Woodland Endangered — possible 9

Plains Grassy Woodland Endangered — 9 9

Riparian Shrubland Rare 9 — —

Swamp Riparian Woodland Endangered — 9 —

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Table 1 shows that seven of the 12 EVCs are considered threatened (Status Rare, Vulnerable or Endangered) on the basis of depletion and modification since European settlement (DSE Bioregional Depletion Statements 2005). Most are associated with Yan Yean and include the Endangered Plains Grassy Woodland EVC generally regarded as one of the best remaining examples in southern Victoria and considered as State conservation significance (Beardsell 1997, DSE 2005b). In addition, the Plains Grassy Woodland EVC includes a number of distinct Floristic Vegetation Classes with woodlands variously dominated by Swamp Gum, Snow Gum, Yellow Box, Narrow-leaf Peppermint and Candlebark. These potentially important distinctions have not been dealt with in any detail in previous documentation.

Cool Temperate Rainforest is the only threatened EVC currently modelled for the Wallaby Creek catchment. It forms a galley forest along the major streams of the plateau (Wallaby Creek and headwaters of Plenty River) and is easily recognised by the pyramid-form of Southern Sassafras the dominant tree species (Plate 5).

The key values of the Wallaby Creek catchment however centre on the majestic old growth Mountain Ash Forests (Wet Forest EVC) of the plateau (also referred to as the Hume Plateau). These occur in a high rainfall zone (1,300 – 1,500 mm per annum) at around 700 m. They have been the subject of on-going scientific research since the late 1940s (see Ashton 2000) and much of the current autecological knowledge of Mountain Ash stems from the research of the late David Ashton and colleagues at the University of Melbourne. The Big Ash as it is locally referred to, is now nearly 300 years old and occupies a core area of c. 10 km2 (Ashton 2000).

Further, the Hume plateau is interesting biogeographically as it represents an ‘island’ of wetter country on the Great Dividing Range at the western end of the eastern highlands. Records of plant species date from as early as 1904, and include specimens collected by Ferdinand von Mueller.

The historical scientific significance of the area, centred on the long-term research programs is likely to be important at a National level.

The Yan Yean system also includes several plant species listed under Federal (EPBC Act 1999) and/or State (FFG Act 1988) legislation, or otherwise considered threatened (Table 2).

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Table 2: Threatened Plant Species recorded from the Yan Yean System

Species Name Status Wallaby Creek Yan Yean

Pellaea nana Dwarf Sickle-fern r 9 — Thismia rodwayi Fairy Lanterns FFG 9 — Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil k 9 9 Grevillea repens Creeping Grevillea r 9 — Prasophyllum suaveolens Fragrant Leek-orchid EPBC, FFG — 9 Senecio macrocarpus Large-fruit Groundsel EPBC, FFG — 9 Hypsela tridens Hypsela K — 9 Glycine latrobeana Clover Glycine EPBC,FFG — 9 Eucalyptus yarraensis Yarra Gum r — 9 Dianella amoena Matted Flax-lily EPBC — 9

r = rare k = poorly known FFG = Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 EPBC = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Similar to the EVCs, this is likely to be a conservation inventory, and most records are pre 1990. The current status of many of the populations, and particularly the EPBC and/or FFG listed species at Yan Yean, many recorded by Beardsell in the late 1980s and early 1990s, (Beardsell 1997) is uncertain.

Finally, there is a poorly documented but potentially significant wetland flora which has developed in particular areas of Toorourrong and Yan Yean reservoirs. Beardsell (1997) discusses this briefly in relation to Site 99 and Site 92, representing the respective reservoirs, and alludes to both seasonal and permanent wetland vegetation. Although occupying artificial waterbodies, the vegetation is derived from the severely depleted regional wetland flora – the naturally occurring Wetland Formation EVC is classified as Endangered – and is likely to support a number of significant species and interesting assemblages.

3.2 Fauna

3.2.1 Characteristics

The three components of the study area, but particularly those around Yan Yean Reservoir and within the Wallaby Creek catchment, are characterised by:

Relatively high indigenous faunal diversity (relatively high species diversity for a near- metropolitan study area – see Table 1);

Representation of rare and threatened species (see Table 2);

High quality and diverse faunal habitats

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Table 3: Faunal diversity within the Yan Yean system (from DSE 2004)

Animal groups Number of species in Yan Yean system units (* = introduced species) Wallaby Creek Intervening aqueduct Yan Yean Birds 165 (*6) 94 (*8) 164 (*8) Mammals 41 (*8) 5 25 (*3) Frogs 14 10 9 Reptiles 23 1 14 Fish 6 9 7 Invertebrates 3 0 0 Totals 252 (*14) 119 (*8) 219 (*11)

Table 4: Representation of listed threatened fauna species within the Yan Yean system

Number of listed threatened species in Yan Yean system units Wallaby Creek Intervening aqueduct Yan Yean EPBC 2 4 3 FFG 17 9 11 DSE 31 12 24 Totals 32 13 24

The fauna of the Wallaby Creek catchment can be broken down into two sub-groups; typified by a suite of wetland species associated with the Toorourrong Reservoir, and a suite of forest and woodland species from the remainder of the catchment. The currency of these database records falls into a similar grouping, where species of the wetland suite typically have more recent records in the State database (composed mostly of casual records from the publicly accessible areas at Toorourrong) and the forest species mostly older records, indicating a lack of systematic survey in recent times from the closed (to the public) areas of the catchment.

Of the three units within the Yan Yean supply system, the Wallaby Creek catchment has the highest representation of threatened species (32 species; Tables 4 & 5); and this may be explained by the relatively large area combined with greater diversity of habitats.

Table 5: Listed threatened fauna species from Wallaby Creek

Common Name Scientific Name Last Recs EPBC DSE FFG LRO Lewin's Rail Rallus pectoralis 1988 1 VU L M Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla 1990 1 VU L M Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 1999 3 NT L Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii 1990 1 NT M Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 1988 1 NT H Australian Little Bittern Ixobrychus dubius 1990 1 EN L L Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus 1990 1 EN L L Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 1986 1 VU L Hardhead Aythya australis 1988 1 VU M Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 1988 1 EN L M

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Musk Duck Biziura lobata 2001 22 VU C,H Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae 1990 1 VU H White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 1997 1 VU L M Barking Owl Ninox connivens 1990 1 EN L L Powerful Owl Ninox strenua 1988 5 VU L H Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa 1990 1 VU L H Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida 1905 1 VU L N,V Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor 1967 1 EN EN L L Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea 1988 1 NT M Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 1967 1 NT L N Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum 1986 1 NT H Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata 1905 1 VU L M Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa 1986 1 VU L H Common Dunnart Sminthopsis murina 1991 1 VU M Common Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii 2001 4 VU L H oceanensis Southern Myotis Myotis macropus 2001 2 NT H Tree Goanna Varanus varius 1994 1 VU H Glossy Grass Skink Pseudemoia rawlinsoni 1986 1 NT H Brown Toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii 1964 1 EN L Southern Toadlet Pseudophryne semimarmorata 1988 3 VU H Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis 1990 3 VU EN L M Mountain Galaxias Galaxias olidus 1990 29 L H

Last = Most recent record from ‘Atlas of Victorian Wildlife’ (AVW) database Recs = Number of records from AVW database EPBC = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 DSE = Advisory list of Victorian threatened fauna (DSE 2003) FFG = Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 LRO = Likelihood of regular occurrence; H = High, M = Moderate, L = Low, N = Negligible, V = Vagrant or erroneous record.

In contrast, both the total number of species recorded from the intervening aqueduct (Plates 6 & 7), and the representation there of threatened species, is the lowest of the three units (Tables 4 & 6). This appears to be influenced by a number of factors, including (i) a relatively small and narrow linear shaped area, (ii) relatively low habitat diversity and quality, and (iii) small and/or biased survey effort within the unit.

Table 6: Listed threatened fauna species from the intervening aqueduct

Common Name Scientific Name Last Recs EPBC DSE FFG LRO Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 1975 1 NT L N,V Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 1999 2 NT M Great Egret Ardea alba 1988 1 VU L H Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 1973 1 VU M Musk Duck Biziura lobata 2001 10 VU H Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 1973 1 NT L N Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia 1896 2 EN CR L N Common Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii 2001 2 VU L H oceanensis Southern Myotis Myotis macropus 2001 1 NT H Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis 1988 28 VU EN L H Mountain Galaxias Galaxias olidus 1999 187 L H Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii peelii 1857 9 VU EN L N Macquarie Perch Macquaria australasica 1857 9 EN EN L N

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Total faunal diversity from the Yan Yean block is virtually equivalent to that within the Wallaby Creek catchment; though the representation of threatened species is lower (Tables 4 & 7). Habitat diversity within the Yan Yean block is less than in Wallaby Creek, though the habitat quality is high in both areas. The State database coverage of the Yan Yean block again reveals relatively incomplete, dated and biased survey coverage.

Table 7: Listed threatened fauna species from Yan Yean

Common Name Scientific Name Last Recs EPBC DSE FFG LRO Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora 2000 1 NT H Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 2002 3 NT H Caspian Tern Sterna caspia 1999 2 NT L L Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii 2001 4 NT H Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 2001 3 VU H Little Egret Egretta garzetta 2002 1 EN L L Great Egret Ardea alba 2002 11 VU L H Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 2001 2 NT H Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 2003 12 VU H Hardhead Aythya australis 2003 22 VU H Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 2002 12 EN L H Musk Duck Biziura lobata 2002 18 VU H White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 2002 11 VU L H Powerful Owl Ninox strenua 2000 1 VU L M Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor 1990 1 EN EN L M Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum 1991 3 NT H Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata 1987 1 VU L M Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 1988 1 NT M Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia 1990 1 EN CR L L Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa 1991 1 VU L H Southern Myotis Myotis macropus 1999 3 NT H Glossy Grass Skink Pseudemoia rawlinsoni 1988 1 NT H Southern Toadlet Pseudophryne semimarmorata 1988 1 VU M Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii peelii 1867 8 VU EN L N

3.2.2 Significance

Despite the incomplete and partial fauna data extant for the system as a whole, and for its constituent parts, sufficient data exist to characterise the system’s fauna in broad terms. We regard the natural areas of the Yan Yean System as being of National significance for fauna.

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3.3 Landscape

The Victorian National Parks Act identifies Wallaby Creek as a ‘Designated Water Supply Catchment Area’ within Kinglake National Park. The Kinglake National Park is assigned the IUCN Category II (National Parks) of the United Nations’ List of National Parks and Protected Areas. Category II areas are managed primarily for ecosystem conservation and appropriate recreation. The Stony Creek, Disappointment, Joey Creek, Yan Yean North and Yan Yean South Reference Areas are assigned the IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve) and are managed mainly for scientific purposes (Parks Victoria 1996, 2000).

Reference Areas proclaimed under the Victorian Reference Areas Act 1978 are areas of particular ecological and scientific interest that can serve as a reference for comparative assessment of impacts on land uses elsewhere. Human interference in Reference Areas is restricted to the minimum essential; ensuring that as far as is practicable, long-term changes result only from natural processes (Parks Victoria 2000).

3.3.1 Characteristics

Overall diversity and quality of forest and woodland habitats in areas long closed to the general public, with relatively high landform and geological diversity, biodiversity and representation of threatened species and vegetation types – State to National significance.

Old growth Mountain Ash forest on the Hume Plateau with Dave Ashton’s long term study sites – International significance.

Long term study site for Platypus at Toorourrong Reservoir (Australian Platypus Conservancy) – high Regional to State significance.

Table 8: Land tenure and management units within the Yan Yean Water Supply System Unit Size Sub-units Size Sub-units Size (ha) (ha) (ha) Yan Yean Reservoir 15 - - - - Park Yan Yean Catchment ? Yan Yean North Reference Area 83 - - Yan Yean South Reference Area 223 Kinglake National 21,600 Wallaby Creek Designated Water 9,965 Disappointment 1,195 Park Supply Catchment Area Reference Area Stony Creek Reference 415 Area Joey Creek Reference 230 Area Toorourrung 12 - - - - Reservoir Park

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Table 9: Ratings of landscape significance from State biosites database (DSE 2005b)

DSE Description Significance Bioregion Yan Yean Ref: System Unit 4891 Kinglake National Park - Mt Disappointment Reference National Highlands – Southern Wallaby Ck Area Fall 4892 Toorourrong Reservoir State Highlands – Southern Wallaby Ck Fall 4950 Mornmoot Lake - Plenty River East/West Branch Regional Central Victorian Intervening Uplands aqueduct 4888 Yan Yean Reference Areas State Central Victorian Yan Yean Uplands 5027 Sherwin Range - Ridge Road/Coombes Road Regional Highlands – Southern Yan Yean Fall

3.3.2 Significance

We regard the natural landscape of the Yan Yean system as being of National – International significance.

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Plate 1: Old-growth Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans forest, Wallaby Creek catchment (November 2005)

Plate 2: Toorourrong Reservoir (October 2005)

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Plate 3: Old growth eucalypt forest, The Cascades, Wallaby Creek catchment

Plate 4: Old growth Messmate Stringybark, Wallaby Creek catchment

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Plate 5: Sassafras trees on Wallaby Creek, Wallaby Creek catchment

Plate 6: Melaleuca scrub on Plenty River adjacent to Yan Yean aqueduct

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Plate 7: Section of Yan Yean aqueduct near Plenty River

Plate 8: Yan Yean Reservoir viewed from reference area to the east

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Plate 9: Lowland Snow Gum woodland, Yan Yean reference area

Plate 10: Old-growth Mountain Tea-tree stand, Wallaby Creek catchment

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4 Discussion

4.1 Information gaps

4.1.1 Fauna

Incomplete fauna inventory data in state database, particularly for the intervening aqueduct area (all taxa)

Poor data on reptiles, fish and invertebrates in particular for all three units of the Yan Yean natural system

Heavy emphasis on Eastern Grey Kangaroo research at Yan Yean, at the expense of other lines of enquiry

Poor data on the species of feral pest animals present, their abundance and distribution within the system (eg. *Sambar Deer, *Feral Dog, *Fox, etc.)

Many records of threatened fauna in the database are dated, resulting from a lack of recent survey

Many records of species (all taxa) typical of the closed areas of the system are dated and show biased/incomplete survey coverage – contrasting with the over-rtepresentation of wetland species in the State database submitted by members of the public visiting open areas at the two reservoir parks

Another subset of the threatened fauna records from the database appear more contemporary, but are non-systematic or opportunistic records clustered in publicly accessible areas (eg. Toorourrong and Yan Yean Reservoir Parks), meaning that important reference areas have not been recently or systematically surveyed

4.1.2 Flora

Wallaby Creek

appears data biased towards Mountain Ash, and some related vegetation types

EVCs not well documented

most data sites (110) from the State database are species lists/incidental records

needs representative quadrat sampling outside Mountain Ash zone

management issues needs documenting:

weeds in general – mapping and control

pine and other plantation wildlings

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ferals (particularly #Sweet Pittosporum, *Ivy, *Holly, etc.)

Yan Yean

similarly only a few quadrats – most data sites (51) species lists or incidental records

needs more representative sampling and vegetation descriptions

some of the EVC modelling incorrect, e.g. Grassy Dry Forest is well represented in north-east section – not modelled/mapped; and Damp Forest is extensively mapped but field inspection suggests very restricted

management issues need documenting

status of threatened species needs to be reviewed

wetland vegetation needs documenting and significance assessed

4.2 Proposed measures to address information gaps

Priorities for future research Priority Description of action Indicative cost 1 Reptile survey, aqueduct and Yan Yean $12,000+ 1 Vegetation quadrats, aqueduct and Yan Yean $8 – 10,000 1 Weed and pest animal inventory and management plan (eg. current undocumented $20,000+ #Sweet Pittosporum infestation in NE of Yan Yean) 2 Targeted invertebrate survey, whole system ? 2 Targeted rare plant surveys, Yan Yean (eg. Clover Glycine, Large-fruit Groundsel) $6 – 8,000 2 Vegetation quadrats, Wallaby Creek $8 – 10,000 3 Review and correction of EVC modelling, whole system $5 – 6,000 3 Systematic survey, birds and mammals, whole system $30,000+ 3 Targeted frog survey, Yan Yean (Brown and Southern Toadlets, Growling Grass $8 – 10,000 Frog)

Economies of scale could be achieved by combining compatible tasks.

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5 References

Ashton, D.H. (2000). The environment and plant ecology of the Hume Range, central Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 112(2): 185-278. Beardsell, C. (1997). Sites of faunal and habitat significance in North East Melbourne. Report prepared for the North East Regional Organisation of Councils (NEROC). (Dunmoochin Biological Surveys.) Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. (1995). ‘Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories.’ (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne.) Cogger, H. G., Cameron, E. E., Sadlier, R. A. and Eggler, P. (1993). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles.’ (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra). DSE (2003a). ‘Advisory List of threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2003.’ (Department of Sustainability and Environment: East Melbourne). DSE (2004, unpubl.). Conservation status of Ecological Vegetation Classes in the Port Phillip Region. (Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne). DSE (2004a). Flora Information System. CD-ROM. (DSE/Viridians Biological Databases: Brighton East.) DSE (2004b). Victorian Fauna Display. CD-ROM. (DSE/Viridians Biological Databases: Brighton East.) DSE (2005a). ‘Advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria – 2005.’ (Department of Sustainability and Environment: East Melbourne.) DSE (2005b). ‘Biosites of the Port Phillip Region – update.’ (Department of Sustainability and Environment: East Melbourne.) DSE (2005c). Ecological Vegetation Classes and Sites of Biodiversity Significance: Port Phillip and Westernport Region January 2005 (CD-ROM). Produced by the State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment for Land and Water Management Agencies. (Department of Sustainability & Environment: East Melbourne.) Duncan, A., Baker, G. B. and Montgomery, N. (Eds) (1999). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Bats.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.) Garnett, S. T. and Crowley, G. M. (2000). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.) Gullan, P. K. (1978). Vegetation of the Royal Botanic Gardens Annexe at Cranbourne, Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 70, 225-240. Lee, A. K. (1995). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Rodents.’ (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra.) Maxwell, S., Burbidge, A. A. and Morris, K. (Eds) (1996). ‘The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes.’ (Wildlife Australia for the Australasian

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Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group and the IUCN Species Survival Commission: Switzerland.) Parks Victoria (1998). ‘Wallaby Creek Designated Water Supply Catchment Area, Kinglake National Park: Management Plan.’ (Parks Victoria, Kew.) Ross, J. H. and Walsh, N.G. (2003). ‘A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria. Seventh edition.’ (National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens: South Yarra.) Schodde, R. & Mason, I.J. (1999). ‘The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines.’ (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.) Schulz, M., Beardsell, C. and Sandiford, K. (1991). ‘Sites of faunal significance in the western wetlands of Melbourne.’ (Department of Conservation and Environment: Melbourne.) Tyler, M. (1997). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Frogs.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.) Wager, R. and Jackson, P. (1993). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Freshwater Fishes.’ (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra.)

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6 Acknowledgments

We acknowledge assistance provided by:

Anthony de la Rossa and colleagues (Melbourne Water)

David Helms and Natica Schmeder (Context)

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APPENDIX 4

Interpretation Plan M57 water main replacement project (2006)

10 Yan Yean Water Supply System Conservation Management Plan

Interpretation plan - M57 water main replacement project (Draft - June 2007) Purpose This interpretation plan has been prepared for Melbourne Water in relation to historic pipe infrastructure between McDonalds Road, Morang and Preston Reservoir that forms part of the Yan Yean Water Supply System (hereafter referred to as the Yan Yean system). The pipes that are subject of this plan were constructed in the nineteenth century and are known as the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 mains. Interpretation of the pipes (see history and description below) will be based on significance and will fit within the overall interpretation plan for the Yan Yean system. In drawing up a plan for the pipes, the interpretation policy for the Yan Yean Water Supply System and the relevant conservation policy in the Yan Yean Water Supply System Conservation Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the Yan Yean system CMP) has been followed.

Heritage Victoria consent This plan has been prepared in response to a Consent issued by Heritage Victoria to Melbourne Water to undertake works along the pipe track, which included the removal of sections of pipe (see below). This Consent included conditions, which (amongst other things) required that: • A Conservation Management Plan be carried out for the entire Yan Yean system. Context Pty Ltd were appointed in 2005 to prepare the CMP. • The CMP was to address the requirements for a comprehensive Interpretation Scheme for the system, which should include the display of historic fabric and infrastructure. • Samples of the No. 3 and No. 5 mains are to be removed and retained and stored for future interpretation.

History and description The pipes that are the subject of this plan are three nineteenth century pipes that are situated within the Yan Yean pipe track, which varies between 40-60m in width and covers a distance of just over 10km of which 9km is within a pipe track reserve and 1 km within the Cheddar Road median strip. They are: • The No. 1 Main. This is the original main put into commission for the opening of the Yan Yean Water Supply in 1857. The No. 1 main is a cast iron pipe with a 27 inch (675mm) nominal bore (NB). Until quite recently, this main was still in use. • The No. 3 Main. This was originally laid between Yan Yean and Morang and put into commission for the opening of the system in 1857. It comprises cast iron pipes with a 30 inch (750mm) nominal bore. This pipe was lifted in the 1870s when the bluestone aqueduct was built between Yan Yean and Morang and re-laid alongside the Number 1 Main between Morang and Preston using the original 1857 pipes. Until quite recently, this main was still in use. • The No. 5 Main). This was laid in 1887. The first half mile (0.8 km) south from Morang are cast iron 30 inch (750mm) pipes which in all probability were recycled from the main removed during the construction of the aqueduct (ie: it is the same as the No. 3 Main). For the remaining distance south to Preston, the Number 5 Main is a wrought iron 30 inch (750mm) nominal bore pipe. This pipe was decommissioned some time ago.

1 The No. 1 and No. 3 mains remained in use for almost 150 years and were important secondary transfer mains covering the zone between Morang and Preston, supplying a number of residential and industrial customers. However, corrosion of the pipelines and additional pressure on the mains where road crossings had been constructed (which resulted in pipe bursts) required Melbourne Water to upgrade the infrastructure. These works involved the removal of sections of each of the three mains and the construction of a new main generally in the place of the No. 5 main. As a consequence of these works: • Small sections of the No. 1 main were removed in the vicinity of seven key road crossing along the pipe track. This main was decommissioned. • Approximately 35% of the No. 3 main was removed and it was decommissioned • Approximately 60% of the No. 5 main was removed. Melbourne Water and Context Pty Ltd met with staff at Heritage Victoria’s conservation laboratory to discuss options for the conservation of sections of the removed pipe for possible future interpretation. Staff were concerned that the laboratory did not have facilities to handle such large pieces of infrastructure and this concern was discussed during a site visit with Heritage Victoria’s Senior Archaeologist, Jeremy Smith. It was thought that it may be impractical to retain and display section of the pipes, however Melbourne Water subsequently commissioned an independent conservator’s report and currently retains section of both the Nos. 3 and 5 mains at its Preston Depot.

Significance The Yan Yean system CMP concludes that the whole of the Yan Yean system (including the original parts constructed between 1853-57 and additions made up to 1891 – this is the date when the Watts River Weir came on line and the development of Yan Yean system was essentially completed) is of historic, technical and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria. The remaining nineteenth century sections of the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 mains situated within the pipe track extending from the Pipehead Reservoir to Preston Reservoir along with the associated Valve House at Mill Park, Darebin Creek pipe bridge and the Junction Basin are of primary significance as integral components of the Yan Yean water supply system that are associated with its initial development, and also illustrate the refinements that were made to improve supply. The No. 1 and No. 3 mains are of particular significance as examples of early cast iron pipes that are rare in Victoria and possibly nationally. The pipe infrastructure also provides evidence of significant stages in the nineteenth century development of the Melbourne’s water supply system.

Why interpret the pipes? The pipes are an important component of the overall significance of the Yan Yean Water Supply System and, as such, they will be one component within a larger interpretation plan for the system. Interpreting the pipes as a component of the system is integral to its overall conservation and protection of its heritage values. Reasons for interpreting the Yan Yean Water Supply System. • To raise (or create) public awareness and understanding of the significance of the Yan Yean water supply system to Melbourne and Victoria. • To promote public appreciation of, and care for, the extant fabric of the historic Yan Yean Water Supply System. • To promote public understanding of how Melbourne Water manages heritage in its care.

2 • To raise public awareness and understanding of the ongoing development and maintenance of the Yan Yean Water Supply System and how it fits into Melbourne’s water supply generally. • To enhance the experience of people using areas along the pipe track for recreation. In particular, the walking and bike paths along the pipe track and at public areas at Yan Yean Reservoir and Toorourrong Reservoir. Reasons for interpreting the pipes • The pipes are a key component of the overall system and, through their sheer size, will attract attention. In displaying them in some form, the pipes can provide an access point to communicating the significance of the Yan Yean system. • The presence of the pipes will enhance interest and enjoyment of visitors through providing access to part of the system (the underground pipes) which is never seen.

What is going to be interpreted? The pipes and associated infrastructure with potential for interpretation include: • The removed sections of the No. 3 and No. 5 mains currently stored at the Melbourne Preston Depot. • The in-situ remains of the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 mains and associated above-ground infrastructure such as the Valve House at Mill Park, the Junction Basin, and the pipe bridge at Darebin Creek. Interpretation of the pipes and associated infrastructure will fit within the overall interpretation theme and sub themes for the Yan Yean system. These are included as Appendix 1. The sub theme following is of particular relevance: Archaeological remains show us how Pipes water supply technology developed over Reservoirs time and to the current day Aqueducts Other infrastructure e.g. Mill Park Valve House

Who is the interpretation for? The best interpretation takes into account the needs and existing knowledge of its audiences. The first step is to identify the audiences for Yan Yean system interpretation (and the pipes as a component of this) and determine their needs before deciding on the method and content of the interpretation. The key question to answer is: Who are the people who will be accessing the interpretation and what sorts of interpretation approaches work best for them? When this has been established the most appropriate interpretation content and methods for the defined audiences can be developed. The most likely audiences for Yan Yean system interpretation are as follows: 1 • Residents living alongside the pipe track and extant infrastructure. • People who spend leisure time in the publicly accessible areas along the system i.e. Yan Yean Reservoir; Toorourrong Reservoir; areas along the pipe track – particularly cycling and walking tracks.

1 These audiences will be further developed following research

3 • People who come into contact with extant fabric - e.g., Valve House at Mill Park; Clearwater Channel; Egyptian Revival Valve House and instrumentation cubicles on St Georges Road. • People who visit Werribee water treatment plant and visit Scienceworks. • People who will never visit any part of the system but may have an interest in it (included here are people who would like to see the off-limits areas). • School children who participate in Melbourne Water’s education program. • Wider community.

Deciding on the audiences The above categories are very broad, and, in order to better understand who the audiences are for interpretation, more information about them is required. This will inform decisions on interpretation content and methods. The following information is needed: • The profile of residents living along the pipe track. • The profile of people/groups who use the bike track and walking tracks along the pipeline. • The profile of users of parkland at Yan Yean and Toorourrong reservoirs. • Museum Victoria visitors to the Scienceworks and Melbourne Museum campuses (if , for example, an exhibition on their premises is developed). • The profile of visitors to Werribee treatment plant. • Curriculum requirements/ages of children involved in Melbourne Water education program if the Yan Yean System is to be incorporated within this. In addition to a deeper knowledge of the audiences for the interpretation, we need to determine existing knowledge of the system among these people and to assess the level and type of interpretation which would interest them and fit best with their needs. This is also an opportunity to test out the themes and any specific content we have developed e.g. for interpretation of the pipes.

Action to obtain information and define audiences Assess existing data Identify and assess any available and relevant data from Melbourne Water, Museum Victoria and Parks Victoria including visitor data for the Yan Yean Reservoir. Questionnaire surveys Design, administer and analyse on-site surveys for: • Yan Yean Reservoir • Toorourrong Reservoir • Bicycle/walking track along the Yan Yean pipe track (establish key survey points) This survey will provide a better understanding of the audience(s) for interpretation. The survey will look at who the on-site visitors are; what they know about the Yan Yean system and its extant fabric. Also, it will provide an opportunity to explore what types of interpretation would meet their interests by discussing the draft themes and potential methods, including the ways in which we might choose to display the pipes. Focus Group Having identified the profile of potential audiences for interpretation, a focus group should be held involving members of the target audience to explore further the developing

4 interpretation themes and methods to see if they interest the audiences and are suited to their needs.

How and where to interpret the pipes Using existing data and the results of the on-site surveys, we would draw out the main audiences for the interpretation and agree the topics and the optimum methods to use for those audiences in displaying the pipes. These can then be tested in a focus group as described above before being finalised. Methods might include: 1. Display sections of the pipe in selected public areas at Yan Yean and Tourourrong and St George’s Road (taking into account policy 4.4) which can be climbed through and over. 2. Commission an artist to use the pipes to created sculpture with the local community to be sited at key places along the track 3. Sections of the pipe in a museum setting e.g. science-works with interpretive material. 4. Use signage or a numbered trail guide to interpret sections of the pipes where they remain in-situ and are exposed or there is an above-ground feature (e.g. at road crossings or the Darebin Creek bridge, the Junction Basin, Mill Park Valve House).

Recommendations This plan for the pipes will be one component within an overall interpretation plan for the Yan Yean system and the size of the pipes is likely to have immediate impact on audiences and attract their interest. The recommendations for implementing interpretation for the pipes are based on significance and are as follows. 1 Define target audience The first task will be to define and agree upon target audiences and profile (this research will be part of understanding audiences and developing the interpretation plan for the Yan Yean system). 2 Select interpretation methods The second task will be to decide on methods for interpreting the pipes and test these with a focus group of people drawn from the target audience profile. At this stage, ideas for implementation are as follows and are subject to review as a result of audience research: • Keep some of the pipes in museum-condition storage or on display at Werribee and/or Scienceworks with interpretive information explaining their significance as a part of the Yan Yean system. • Commission an artist to make one or more sculptures using the pipes and based in significance of the material and its wider context. This project could be done with local people as part of an artist in residence programme. The number of sculptures would depend on the amount of material and funding available. Locations would be selected along the system to gain maximum exposure but, at the same time, taking into consideration policy 4.3 in the Yan Yean system CMP. Details of the project would also be on-line and people would be able to follow progress see, e.g. The Angel of the North project in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. The Melbourne Water project would have more detail than these examples. http://www.kenfinn.demon.co.uk/angel/shape.htm http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/angel/biography/angel-of-the-north • Display a section of the pipe at Yan Yean reservoir close to the valve house. The idea would be that people can look at, look through and walk inside the pipe to get a sense of its sheer size. Interpretive information would also be provided about the pipe, construction and wider water supply system.

5 • Use signage or a numbered trail guide to interpret sections of the pipes where they remain in-situ and are exposed or there is an above-ground feature (e.g. at road crossings or the Darebin Creek bridge, the Junction Basin, Mill Park Valve House). 3 Actions to implement the pipes interpretation Once the target audience has been defined and the interpretation methods have been selected, the interpretation plan can be implemented. Depending on the interpretation method chosen this will require further work as follows: • Materials - Identify what is to be conserved and what can be used for the art project and installation at Yan Yean Reservoir and to Werribee/Scienceworks. Agree siting of the pipes and write and design text panels (the same design would be used wherever text panels are required as part of the Yan Yean system interpretation). • Discuss the project and potential artists with Arts Victoria in the first instance. Identify suitable artist and discuss the project with him/her, ideally in partnership with Arts Victoria or a local council arts and culture officer. • Set up a website for the art project.

Draft Indicative Timeline Action Timing Research audiences – Yan Yean Water Supply System including pipes

Design questionnaire Month 1-3 Implement questionnaire

Analyse questionnaire, define audiences and their needs Month 3- 4 Focus group to test interpretation themes with relation to the pipes and potential methods Month 4 Feed into interpretation planning Month 4 - 5 Pipes in the landscape Pipes at Werribee and/or Scienceworks Month 5-7 Select exact location; place pipe in situ at e.g. Yan Yean Write text, design panel, produce panel, install panel. Write text for panels/brochures to interpret pipes in situ within the water system Pipe Art Research and design the project with e.g. Arts Victoria Month 1 – 3 Assess funding opportunities and eligibility Month 1 - 2 http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/arts/funding/funding.htm (funding programme applications in by 1/3/2007)

Commission Month 5 – 7 Project duration Installation Month 7 – 10 Month 11 - 12

6 APPENDIX 1

Yan Yean Water Supply System interpretation themes (draft)

Main theme The Yan Yean Water Supply System is a visionary engineering project. As Melbourne’s first and only water supply, until 1891, it played a major role in the development of Melbourne and of Victoria and is still in use today.

Sub Themes (what we want the Topics (what we want to tell audiences about) audience to understand) The Yan Yean Water Supply System is Melbourne’s first reticulated water supply a marvel of engineering and symbol of Major project with few (if any) parallels then, or now in an era Australia. Technology was standard for the time but it was one of the largest man-made lakes in the world at the time. Mid nineteenth century water technology demonstrated making use of gravity. Gravity fed system was (is) remarkable; cascades; puddle clay core; off stream storage; pipes; aqueducts; valves; (experimental and a failure. Still in use today with few modifications – why? Good Q. It was a basic system which was capable of upgrading to serve expanding need. Evidence of development of Melbourne’s water system over time including early construction techniques prior to concrete. Closing the catchments – why? Water quality and quantity with the belief that trees attract rain. Constructing the system – the enormity of the task - physical work; technical difficulties to overcome; the man and horse-power it needed etc. Evidence of the development of Melbourne’s water system over time including early construction techniques prior to concrete. Not all glory – problems, criticisms and how they were overcome – e.g. burst pipes, lead poisoning, more water to get rid of (smellbourne – a thirsty city of gardens); the more water people had the more they wanted; water quality. (note parallels with today) Health and sanitation of the period/time – health, water, sanitation – water quality/water-borne diseases and the development of understanding. Politics: the need to find solutions to poor quality water and shortages quickly. Sacking of the original commissioners. Fact that Wallaby Creek is the only water from a north flowing stream that has ever entered Melbourne’s water supply (Bolte made sure of this). Also the politics of conservation, timber interests versus water requirements – more votes in the latter (still relevant today). The role of Yan Yean today and into the future – a small part of a large system today

7 Sub Themes (what we want the Topics (what we want to tell audiences about) audience to understand) Who were the people behind the Yan Vision; engineering; implementation: - James Blackburn; Yean Water System and what was life Clement Hodgkinson; Matthew Jackson; Governor like for them? LaTrobe; William Davidson; William Thwaites; Sir John Monash (not major player but of interest in the development of concrete technology in the early twentieth century. Preston Reservoir 2 seems unique in the Melbourne system of the time). Physical construction, craftmanship and skill, maintenance and looking after it - designers, engineers, construction workers, trades-people, craftsmen, caretakers in residence (dynasties – families with tradition of working on the YY system); water community camaraderie. People who look after the system today. Potential for oral histories. The Landscape is a creation of the era Creating a picturesque landscape – the artifice of making and tells us a lot about views on it look like a creation of nature rather than man-made. suitable plants to protect water quality 1930s beautification of St Georges Road (MMBW and and about contemporary aesthetics and cities of Preston and Northcote) – partly suburban interest in plants. expansion and partly creation of jobs for the unemployed. Plantings – pines etc Flora and fauna/habitats People – Baron Ferdinand von Mueller; William Ferguson; Nicholas Bickford Archaeological remains show us how Pipes water supply technology developed over Reservoirs time and to the current day Aqueducts Other infrastructure e.g. Mill Park Valve House A great place for a day trip – past, Bush walking; picnics; hunting; fishing; present, future. Day-trippers from Melbourne before and after the opening of Whittlesea line in 1889. The annual New Year’s Day picnic. Today