The authors respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land - the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, their spirits, ancestors, elders and community members past and present. In December 2018, the Chain of Ponds was endorsed by the Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Narelle Sharpe, Mayor Natalie Abboud, Mayor Moonee Valley City Council and Moreland City Council. Moonee Valley City Council Moreland City Council In December 2018, the Chain of Ponds was endorsed by the Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Moonee Valley City Council and Moreland City Council. The Chain of Ponds is our long-term vision for the Moonee Ponds The Moonee Ponds Creek Chain of Ponds is an exciting, ambitious FOREWORDS Creek. It’s a holistic plan to improve the health of the creek and and collaborative 10-year plan to dramatically transform the Moonee protect it from urban development. This will ensure our happy and Ponds Creek. Together with Moonee Valley Council and the active community can enjoy the surrounds well into the future. Collaboration partners we aim to improve the health and biodiversity Kelvin Thomson, President of the creek, create a well-connected and well used linear park along Friends of the Moonee Ponds Creek its banks and protect it from inappropriate urban development. The There is a now a palpable sense of urgency and purpose surrounding The history of the Moonee Ponds Creek has often been a turbulent Chain of Ponds Plan will bring together the community, stakeholders, climate change and the need to undertake radical steps to decarbonise one. Approaches to water management that reflected the thinking land managers and government agencies to design and deliver this our economy and our way of life. The way we currently live is not and urban planning of the time haven’t always protected the vision sustainable and we must radically alter aspects of our existence, including ecological health of the creek or its natural beauty. the way we build and manage our cities. The Moonee Ponds Creek catchment remains under pressure from This plan represents a moment in time to reflect on both the seriousness a growing population, urban densification and climate change. of our situation, as well as consider the many possibilities for change. The Chain of Ponds presents an opportunity for us to reimagine the creek. Through this plan we seek to create important environmental, The solutions to these pressures can be found within the creek It is no longer acceptable to do nothing or very little. Instead we must and its catchment. Improving the Moonee Ponds Creek waterway be proactive in exploring new models of urbanity for what is and will be social and physical connections which contribute to a healthy, liveable city for everyone who lives, works and visits Moonee Valley. and catchment will increase community health and liveability in a substantially different world, both atmospherically, economically and the area. Creating and improving its function as a linear park will socially. provide numerous physical and mental health benefits – reducing the impacts of heat and pollution, creating shaded streets and The plan also recognises the enormous energy, creativity, passion and As inner-metropolitan areas like Moonee Valley grow and change, comfortable open spaces, and encouraging physical activity and a commitment that people and communities bring to solving complex open space corridors and waterways become increasingly connection with nature. problems. The improvements to the Moonee Ponds Creek over the last important to the health and wellbeing of our residents. I thirty years have only been possible by this extraordinary commitment. congratulate all those involved in the Chain of Ponds and look This reawakening of the creek is a timely reminder that change begins forward to working with the community and stakeholders to deliver locally and that as a united community we can enact positive and enduring this exciting vision. The development of this Plan involved significant community outcomes. engagement and received very strong community support. I would like to thank those people involved in the development of this collaborative plan; in particular representatives from Moonee Valley City Council, the Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Melbourne Water, the community, fellow Councillors and council officers. Moreland City Council are excited by the opportunities presented in the Chain of Ponds Plan and we look forward to realising its vision for the Moonee Ponds Creek in partnership with the community. *** ii | Chain of Ponds | iii TABLE OF CONTENTS A. PROJECT CONTEXT 1 D. THE CREEK TODAY 49 E. WATER INVESTIGATION 147 G. BASE PLANS 255 H. IMPLEMENTATION 279 I. APPENDICES 287 A.01 Project Introduction 2 D.01 The Creek Catchment 51 E.01 Introduction 149 G.01 Project Summary 257 H.01 Environment – Ecology 281 I.01 References 288 A.02 Project Context 14 D.02 Study Area 55 E.02 Off-Line (Catchment) 155 G.02 Overall Plan 259 H.02 Environment – Water 282 I.02 Project Consultation 293 D.03 Groundwater 59 E.03 Off-Line (Street) 159 G.03 Area 01 261 H.03 Social – Linear Park 283 I.03 Community Themes 309 B. CHRONOLOGY 19 D.04 Flow Regime 61 E.04 Off-Line (Lot) 161 G.04 Area 02 263 H.04 Social - Flooding Risk 284 I.04 Acknowledgements 311 B.01 Introduction 21 D.05 Flooding 67 E.05 On-Line (Creek) 163 G.05 Area 03 265 H.05 Social - Urban Development 284 B.02 A Living Creek 23 D.06 Channel Dynamics 71 E.08 Water Investigation Vision 173 G.06 Area 04 267 H.06 Cultural Heritage 285 B.03 An Agricultural Creek 27 D.07 Creek Health 81 E.06 Assessment of Tools 177 G.07 Area 05 269 H.07 Economic 285 B.04 A Sewer Creek 29 D.08 Ecology 87 E.07 Toolkit Results 183 G.08 Area 06 271 H.08 Governance - Collaboration 286 B.05 A Drainage Creek 31 D.09 Threats to Ecology 93 F. LINEAR PARK 191 G.09 Area 07 273 B.06 A Recreation Creek 33 D.10 Flora 97 F.01 Introduction 193 G.10 Area 08 275 B.07 An Urbanised Creek 35 D.11 Fauna 103 F.02 Linear Park Form 197 G.11 Area 09 277 B.08 An Environmental Creek 37 D.12 People and the creek 113 F.03 Mosaics 203 B.09 A Future Creek 39 D.13 Cultural Heritage 131 F.04 Linear Park Identity 205 D.14 Adjacent Infrastructure 133 F.05 Pathways 207 C. CREEK STORIES 41 D.15 Urban Expansion 135 F.06 Bridges & Underpasses 213 C.01 Introduction 43 D.16 Managing the Creek 141 F.07 Plantings 219 C.02 Previous Plans 45 F.08 Ponds, Puddles & Riffles 227 F.09 Activities 231 F.10 Fixtures 235 F.11 Linear Park Adjacencies 239 F.12 Maintaining the Linear Park 245 F.13 Linear Park Vision 249 iv | Chain of Ponds | v A. PROJECT CONTEXT The vision is to provide innovative, collaborative and inspirational planning and management that will improve the ecological health of the Moonee Ponds Creek, support a happy, active and healthy community and protect the creek from inappropriate urban development. 1 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 2 A.01 PROJECT INTRODUCTION The Moonee Ponds Creek means many different things to many different people... It is a respite from the bustle of the city, a place to walk Over time, the creek has been a chain of ponds, the dog, a landscape to watch the birds, or a quiet woodland, a kitchen, a quarry, a drain, a park, a market moment to listen to the creek. Bunjil once roamed garden, a rubbish dump, a field, a forest and carpark here. and a freeway. It has been everything to everyone at one point in time. For some, it is a convenient path to ride to work, a track to jog along, a place to gather with your mates The creek excites, despairs, fascinates and repels and practise your skateboarding tricks. people in equal measure. It is both Jekyll and Hyde - at once loved community asset, yet often neglected Others see a concrete drain, a place they drive urban wasteland. It is a contested landscape with over occasionally and steal a glimpse of a concrete multiple personalities and readings. encased drain, the underbelly of the city laid bare. In this way Moonee Ponds Creek is many things to Some don’t see a creek at all, but rather a space many people, a chameleon landscape that is ever waiting to be filled with other things, such as freeways, changing and evolving. What it means to different cars, noise walls and stuff that mark the ‘progress’ of people is constantly being questioned and redefined. the modern city. Whatever it means to you, the creek is endlessly The creek is highly visible to some, yet entirely fascinating and important. invisible to others. For many it is incredibly familiar, while for others entirely foreign. Some people visit the This is a long term strategic plan for the creek. creek every day, while others hardly at all. View near Travancore Park, Travancore 3 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 4 PROJECT VISION AREAS OF INVESTIGATION PROJECT SPONSORS STRUCTURE OF PLAN D. The Creek Today G. Baseplans This action plan is a comprehensive investigation into The project provides a framework for managing This plan has been sponsored by the City of Moonee This document is structured in the following manner - This chapter provides a description of how the creek Understanding where the opportunities exist along the what Moonee Ponds Creek is today and what it may change and influencing decision making across the Valley, Moreland City Council and Melbourne Water, functions today, identifying both opportunities and creek is a crucial aspect of the plan.