The authors respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land - the 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 , 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, 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. The baseplans A. Project Context become in the future. It is a holistic plan that explores creek corridor by exploring recommendations, ideas but represents the involvement of many people and constraint, and provides strategic recommendations take the recommendations (The Creek Today), the This chapter provides a strategic overview and the relationship amongst the many variables and and options for the improvement of the creek. It many organisations. A full list of those involved has that will help realise the objectives of the plan. options (Water Investigation) and the components introduction to the project, identifying important forces that affect the creek. identifies appropriate design and ecological strategies been included at the end of the document. (Linear Park) and locates them within the study area. themes and ideas that underpin the investigation. E. Water Investigation with outcomes directed to four key areas.01 It listens closely to the multitude of diverse ideas In particular, the plan recognises the invaluable This chapter acknowledges the central role that creek H. Credits B. Chronology and opinions expressed by the community, including Environmental Outcomes partnership with the Friends of the Moonee Ponds health will play to the success of the linear park. It This chapter acknowledges people and organisations The chronology is a way of understanding the what the creek means to different people. It attempts Improve the ecological health of the creek and Creek, who have been working tirelessly to improve identifies integrated water management tools that involved In the project. It also provides a research evolution of the creek. It summarises different periods to reconcile the many disparate and often divergent biodiversity within the creek corridor through the the creek for over two decades, and who have provide stormwater quality improvements, stormwater methodology and detailed bibliography for the project. in the creek’s history, and how attitudes towards the understandings of what the creek is now and can be. enhancement or restoration of natural systems. provided great support in the preparation of this plan. volume reductions and environmental benefits without creek have resulted in the creek we have today. Promote innovative water management throughout impacting on flooding. Most importantly, it stakes a claim for the creek itself, the creek catchment that reduces stormwater runoff it’s importance to people, animals and plants, it’s C. Creek Stories F. Linear Park and improves water quality. endurance despite a history of neglect, and it’s future This chapter summarises changing attitudes towards The creation of the linear park is an integral as a crucial and increasingly important landscape that Social Outcomes the creek, documenting the broad consultation and component of the plan. This chapter discusses the key provides a powerful connection with nature within a discussion with many people and organisations that Develop a vibrant and well connected linear park design components of the park. large city busting at the seams. has occurred. It underpins the entire project and it’s that supports a happy, active and healthy community direction. The collective vision for the project is to provide within a rapidly growing city. Protect the creek and innovative, collaborative and inspirational planning creek corridor from inappropriate urban development and management that will improve the ecological and infrastructure encroachment. Resolve flood risk health of Moonee Ponds Creek, supports a happy, through innovative and holistic design solutions. active and healthy community and protect the creek Acknowledge and celebrate the Wurundjeri and other from inappropriate urban development. cultural heritage of the Creek. Economic Outcomes “Recreate the ponds along the Quantify the value of the open space along the creek creek - enhance habitat and to better advocate for protection and improvement. Support the economic and social vitality of the ecology, create opportunities communities and businesses located along the creek. for the water to return to Governance Outcomes Provide an inspiring advocacy document for key natural systems of evaporation stakeholders that will help protect and manage the and hydrating the earth.“ creek and environments into the future. Facilitate ongoing dialogue, collaboration and coordination Community Feedback from the across multiple local governments, state government Interactive Map on the Project Website agencies, land managers and community stakeholders.

01 Refer to the ‘Creek Stories’ chapter for more information on the development of project principles.

View near Montague Street, Essendon 5 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 6 WHERE IT HAS COME FROM EVOLUTION OF THE PLAN IMAGINING THE FUTURE The Chain of Ponds plan recognises the urgency of It is important that this plan is seen as a continuation Given the long term nature of this plan, the challenge the situation and the need for change. The success of previous work, rather than a isolated, standalone becomes how we imagine or foresee a different and of this project will rest not with the publication of this project. It builds upon the important and outstanding better future. We must not only design for what we plan, but rather with the implementation of meaningful work that has already been completed by both the know today, but also how we expect things to be change along the creek. community and government over many years. tomorrow. Although the plan identifies improvements to the creek that can be undertaken immediately, it is The project has emerged as a response to community This plan is a natural evolution of these previous also projective; in other words, it looks forward with concern expressed over many years to improve the projects and should be read in conjunction with speculation, hypothesis and imagination to anticipate ecological health of the Moonee Ponds Creek, and the earlier studies. Importantly, this project does not an alternate future for the creek. The plan recognises realisation by the City of Moonee Valley and Moreland seek to replicate these earlier investigations, but that change will not happen in one go, but rather is City Council that a long term vision is required to rather to extend upon the thinking and ideas already continuous and evolving over many years. advocate for a better future for the creek and protect it proposed. These documents include the Northern from further infrastructure expansions. Waterways Study completed in 1976, which marked a Given this, what will the future hold? View from Street bridge, crucial turning point in community attitudes towards Brunswick West In particular, there has been a repeated and consistent the creek and heralding a new era of environmental Social Change request for the removal of part or all of the concrete awareness. Significant population growth, greater density lining to the creek, and the restitution of natural of housing, larger cities, more congestion, aging processes along the creek corridor. This was followed sixteen years later by the ground population, longer life spans, greater obesity, rising breaking Moonee Ponds Creek Concept Plan mental and physical health issues, immigration from This is not a unique request to Melbourne. All across completed by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board troubled parts if the world, greater inequity of wealth, the world, communities have been reclaiming derelict of Works (MMBW) for the Moonee Ponds Creek and an increasing emphasis on food production. and abused waterways, recognising the intrinsic value Association in 1992. More recently, the 2002 Resting of these assets to both the city and to people. Places Strategy and 2011 Strategic Plan reaffirmed the Environmental Change There are a growing number of powerful and inspiring need for ongoing work to improve the fortunes of the Ongoing climate change, rising sea levels and examples across the world where urban waterways creek. When read together, these documents chart temperatures, more frequent and intense storms, with remarkably similar histories to Moonee Ponds a collective vision for the creek and form a powerful accelerating species endangerment and extinction, Creek have been reclaimed and the concrete removed. statement of intent. greater pollution, peak oil and likely exhaustion of certain fossil fuels, more renewable energy usage. The evidence is clear - repairing these creeks is These documents remind us that any plan for the possible. It can be done. creek must be long term. The changes required Technological Change This plan is a direct response to these repeated to improve the health and function of the creek Significant leaps in computer technology, artificial requests from the community and offers a vision for are significant and will not happen over night. Any intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, greater how the creek can be reclaimed for people, animals ideas for the creek must be flexible and adaptable to reliance on digital devices and communications, and plants. account for the significant changes that will occur driverless cars, shifts in economic structure and over the next 50 years. means of production, 3d printing.

Political Change Changes in the structure and performance of the three tiers of government, erosion of geopolitical borders, trade agreements, greater international instability.

7 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 8 PRINCIPLE 08

Provide an inspiring advocacy document for key stakeholders that will help protect and manage the creek and environments into the future. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Based on the feedback gathered from stakeholder workshops, a set of guiding principles were PRINCIPLE 07 developed to reflect the objectives of the project. These principles were further refined and have since been used to assess the development of the plan. They recognise the many different and Quantify the value of the creek corridor often competing demands on the creek. to better advocate for protection and improvement and support the economic and social vitality of the communities and businesses located along the creek PRINCIPLE 01

Improve the ecological health of the creek and GOV biodiversity within the creek corridor GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLE 05 GOALS PRINCIPLE 04 Protect the creek and creek corridor Resolve ood risk through from inappropriate urban development innovative and holistic and infrastructure encroachment design solutions

ENV ECO PRINCIPLE 09 ENVIRONMENT SOC SOCIAL ECONOMIC GOALS Facilitate ongoing dialogue, collaboration GOALS GOALS and coordination across multiple local governments, state government agencies, land managers and community stakeholders

PRINCIPLE 02 PRINCIPLE 03 PRINCIPLE 06 Promote innovative water Develop a vibrant and well connected linear Respectively acknowledge and management throughout park that supports a happy, active and healthy community within a rapidly growing city celebrate the Wurundjeri and other the creek catchment that cultural heritage of the Creek mitigates stormwater

9 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 10 THE CATCHMENT STUDY AREA The Moonee Ponds Creek is a major tributary of the that begins near Greenvale and runs 35 kilometres south through the outer and inner suburbs of Melbourne.

The creek drains an area of approximately 145 square kilometres. The catchment extends from Greenvale through parts of Broadmeadows, Glenroy, Essendon and Moonee Ponds, before flowing southward through Flemington, Kensington, North and West Melbourne into the Yarra River. The catchment is now largely urbanised.

Until the latter part of the 19th century, the lower reaches of the creek comprised a chain of ponds draining into the West Melbourne Swamp (also known as ‘Batman’s Lagoon’). Since then, the creek has undergone extensive drainage and infrastructure works including significant realignment and it now joins the Yarra at Docklands. KOROIT CREEK

The Study Area

The study area for this project stretches from Flemington Road in the south to Boeing Reserve in the north. This 14 kilometre stretch of creek is located within the middle portion of the Moonee Ponds Creek catchment. It falls within the City of Moonee Valley and .

Although heavily modified, the upper sections of the creek generally follow the original alignment of the creek. Further to the south below Bell Street, the creek course has been significantly altered to accommodate drainage and freeway works, and today much of this section is now concrete channel. BAY

Scope Limitations of the Plan Wherever possible this plan has considered both sides of the creek, as all the modifications and improvements fall within the catchment (on both sides) and will necessarily span the creek channel. However, the project scope (as outlined in the original Project Brief) has restricted some aspects of this plan, including the Water Investigation analysis to the City of Moonee Valley side of the creek. In 2017, the City of Moreland became a project sponsor and consequently the master plan scope has been expanded to incorporate issues affecting this council. It is recommended that the study area be extended in the future to explore opportunities outside the current scope, ideally incorporting the entire creek catchment. YARRA RIVER

N DAREBIN CREEK

11 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 12 A.02 PROJECT CONTEXT

CONTESTED GROUND WATER AS SOURCE HOLISTIC CITY DESIGN The Urban Ecology Given the significance of the Moonee Ponds Creek These background documents view the creek from alike, each seeking to realise their particular vision for Humans have an innate connection with water. Water Within this context, there is a growing recognition that This new approach to urban design focuses on the as a major urban waterway, there is little consolidated a variety of different perspectives and contain the the creek and the area it inhabits. is the source of all life. Settlements have always something must change. This includes the possibility important role that natural systems, biodiversity and up to date information that accurately describes inherent biases and distinctive agendas that are developed at the water’s edge and the availability of that nature and natural systems can play a crucial role and contact with living things plays in the health of This plan treads a delicate balance within this the condition of the creek. This project brings together representative of both the author and the era in water has always been central to the success of the in resolving many of these complex urban problems. individuals and by extension the health of the city. contested ground, recognising these inherent a wide range of information from numerous technical, which they were written. There is no such thing as an city. Land near water has always been the first to be However, for this to occur we will need to take a very This strategy understands the city as an ecology; it is contradictions and disagreements and that solutions historical and anecdotal sources to provide an overall impartial commentary on the creek; it is contested developed, and as cities have grown, there has been different direction in the design of our cities if we are a detailed, complex and interrelated mix of elements, are unlikely to please everyone. view of the creek today. ground, fought over by engineers, politicians, business increasing pressure placed on urban waterways. Over to tackle these problems effectively. processes, systems and exchanges. people, developers, environmentalists and residents time, we have marginalised and abused our rivers and creeks as the city has grown. The Monofunctional City As ecologists Holling and Goldberg observe, The twentieth century city has been designed as a “ecosystems are characterised not only by their parts Today the world is faced with rapid population monoculture of infrastructure where each component but also by the interaction among these parts. It is expansion, increasing urbanisation and rampant of the city is largely considered in isolation. Through because of the complexity of the interactions that it industrialisation which is leading to significant rigid and one dimensional planning, design and is so dangerous to take a fragmented view, to look at changes to the world’s climate, and extensive and governance, urban infrastructure such as drainage, an isolated piece of the system. By concentrating on rapid destruction of the natural environment. housing, transportation and health have been treated one fragment and trying to optimise the performance as separate and discreet from one another. of that fragment, we find that the rest of the system Melbourne’s Context responds in unsuspecting ways.” Like so many cities around the world, Melbourne These infrastructure monocultures have resulted in is also experiencing these issues including rapid significant externalities and costs. Many of the poor To design the city well, we must consider all population growth and urban development and the outcomes along the Moonee Ponds Creek are the components holistically rather than as fragments. need to house more people closer together. Traffic consequence of decades of monofunctional drainage This new way of understanding cities recognises congestion, pollution, noise, and social alienation are and freeway planning, leaving a lasting social and the fundamental limits of natural systems, the real problems, as are an ever expanding assortment environmental legacy. interrelationships between all components of urban of health problems, including obesity, depression, design and that creative and radical solutions are attention deficit, auto-immune diseases and diabetes. Yet cities are diverse, interconnected assemblages necessary. that are rich in spatial and temporal relationships. With this rapid development comes the ongoing To design cities well, we must avoid inefficient and This project explores new types of urban ‘ecologies’ deterioration of natural systems within and around wasteful monofunctional strategies and reinvent city and proposes integrated components that are flexible, the city, highlighted by degraded urban creeks and form as integrated components that solve multiple, adaptable and most importantly multipurpose. In this waterways and biodiversity loss. overlapping and complex problems. way, ecology becomes “a generating force, an active though elusive agent in the structuring of the city.”01

MONOFUNCTIONAL INTEGRATED (HOLISTIC) CITY DESIGN CITY DESIGN

Housing

Recreation

Health Ecology

IMAGE CREDIT Transport 01. Courtesy of the Friends of the Moonee Ponds Creek 01 Chris Reed, in Ecological Urbanism pg 328

13 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 14 The Urban Ecology VALUE OF NATURE IN THE CITY Environmental Benefits This new approach to urban design focuses on the In considering how we (re)design the city, and in While ecosystem services may be compromised by important role that natural systems, biodiversity particular, improve the Moonee Ponds Creek, we must the infrastructure of the city, they nonetheless remain and contact with living things plays in the health of ask what is the value of nature and ecosystem services extremely important in promoting a healthy urban individuals and by extension the health of the city. in the city? Ecosystem services are what commentator environment in which large numbers of people are This strategy understands the city as an ecology; it is Virginia Trioli more commonly calls, “the good stuff we required to live. This includes the cooling of urban a detailed, complex and interrelated mix of elements, get from nature.” areas by planting, the uptake of pollutants from the processes, systems and exchanges. air by vegetation, water cleaning, pollination of urban Holistic city design (or ecological urbanism) gardens and orchards, flood mitigation, and in many As ecologists Holling and Goldberg observe, recognises the full range of benefits that accrue cases, habitat for both common and threatened “ecosystems are characterised not only by their parts from nature within the city. When the full value indigenous species. There is a strong correlation but also by the interaction among these parts. It is of these ecosystem services are calculated, they between functioning ecosystem services and quality because of the complexity of the interactions that it offer a compelling argument for the protection and of life. is so dangerous to take a fragmented view, to look at restoration of environmental assets such as the an isolated piece of the system. By concentrating on Moonee Ponds Creek. Human Benefits one fragment and trying to optimise the performance Thirdly are the wide range of benefits that people An important goal is to clearly identify these important of that fragment, we find that the rest of the system accrue from contact with nature within the city, benefits and ensure they are properly valued when responds in unsuspecting ways.” including psychological, physical, social and designing the future of the city. Investing in Moonee spiritual benefits. This includes improved health, To design the city well, we must consider all Ponds Creek may become a cost effective antidote to well being and mental state, relaxation, amenity and components holistically rather than as fragments. many of the problems facing the future of Melbourne. comfort (such as shade and temperature), as well This new way of understanding cities recognises As ecologist Chris Ives suggests “...communicating as supporting play and learning. There is a growing the fundamental limits of natural systems, the the health benefits of urban nature may be the most body of research and evidence that documents the interrelationships between all components of urban persuasive argument for promoting ecosystem extensive range of benefits from contact with nature. design and that creative and radical solutions are services”.01 necessary. Economic Benefits This includes ecological, environmental, human and This project draws together the loose threads of the economic benefits. The final benefits are economic and range from energy city, testing for inherent compatibilities and mutual savings, a reduced burden on health and emergency benefits between different urban components. It Ecological Benefits services and increased land values, to greater explores new types of urban ‘ecologies’ and proposes The primary benefits include such elements as clean productivity and creativity. Historically, economic integrated components that are flexible, adaptable and air, water, nutrient cycling, seed dispersal and plant benefits have driven decision making and city design, most importantly multipurpose. In this way, ecology pollination. These critical services support life on the while ecological, environmental and human benefits becomes “a generating force, an active though elusive planet and represent the complex set of interactions (or costs) have largely been ignored. agent in the structuring of the city.”01 between people and their environment and landscape. Too often we take these critical life supporting services for granted when designing cities, yet put simply, without them we die.

01 Chris Reed, in Ecological Urbanism pg 328 01 www.thenatureofcities.com/2014/04/30/a-values-based- approach-to-urban-nature-research-and-practice/

Remnant vegetation Strathnaver Grasslands, Strathmore Heights

15 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 16 PROJECT SUMMARY Incremental Change Over Time The Moonee Ponds Creek has undergone significant Consequently, this plan is not an over arching master modification over the last one hundred and eighty plan, but rather a collection of actions that offer many years, resulting in a hybrid waterway that is equal part possible futures. In combination, they provide clues nature and artifice. This project acknowledges this to the reinvention of our lives within a carbon neutral altered ‘nature’ of the creek and seeks to reconfigure city. Importantly, it is not about recreating nature, an the creek to operate more effectively with the natural impossible task, but rather urban reinvention. and biological processes at work within the urban environment. It respects the strong community The project identifies changes which can be aspiration to dramatically improve the creek’s health incrementally implemented throughout the catchment, and to create a linear park along the creek that reducing, slowing and cleaning stormwater discharges connects the inner and outer suburbs of Melbourne into the creek. Over time, this will liberate more and for people, animals and plants. more opportunities to remove concrete channel and restore functioning natural processes along the creek. This project recognises that the creek can become the catalyst for a new type of urbanism that is more The recommendations, tools and components responsive to natural processes by reorganising described here represent a staged ‘road map’ of infrastructure to support rather than deny these possibilities that can be deployed with increasing processes, as well as supporting community and intensity as time goes by. The potential to improve individual well being. The project works across the creek rests with the ability to implement as many multiple scales, reconnecting the creek with its of these tools as possible. The cumulative effect of regional and ecological context. It opens our minds multiple tools in combination far outweigh the benefits to powerful and rich possibilities for the city, a liquid of singular options, and the sooner these options are and biotic urbanism where the creek and linear deployed, the greater the benefits. park become critical components within a more Making The Creek Visible sustainable and functional city. Making the Moonee Ponds Creek visible once more in According to landscape architect James Corner the landscape through the reinstatement of the ‘chain ecology “becomes an extremely useful lens through of ponds’ is central to the success of this plan. The which to analyse and project alternative urban futures. ponds signify the reclaiming of the creek by people, The lessons of ecology show how all life on the planet animals and plants. Rather than draining water away is deeply bound into dynamic relationships. The from the city as quickly as possible, hidden within complexity of interaction between elements within pipes and channels, the chain of ponds represents the ecological systems is such that linear, mechanistic emergence of a new ecological urbanism where water models prove to be markedly inadequate to describe is valued. Water is slowed, cleaned, and allowed to them. Rather the discipline of ecology suggests pond along the creek, providing the ‘stepping stones’ that individual agents acting across a broad field of for movement and diverse life along the creek. operation produce incremental and cumulative effects that continually evolve to shape the environment over time.”01

10 Years From Now 20 Years From Now 30 Years From Now 40 Years From Now 01 Terra Fluxus, James Corner in The Landscape Urbanism Reader, ed. Charles Waldheim, Princeton, pg 29.

17 | Chain of Ponds Project Context | 18