Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009 – 2014 Merri Creek Management Committee May 2009 Merri Creek, Galada Tamboore, April 2009 Merri Creek, Galada Tamboore, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014 is based on a review and revision of the 1999 Merri Creek and Environs Strategy undertaken by Merri Creek Management Committee with input from Councils, State Government Agencies, Friends Groups and the wider community. The 1999 strategy was facilitated by Melbourne Water. The following organisations and people are acknowledged for their contributions to the preparation of this document: Merri Creek and Environs Strategy Implementation Subcommittee Thanks are extended to the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy Implementation Subcommittee – a subcommittee of the Merri Creek Management Committee – for their input to the revision of the Strategy. The Subcommittee’s membership over the period of the preparation of the revision included the following organisations and people: City of Darebin Adam Shalekoff City of Hume Karen Wilson, Rebecca Brown, Anna Zsoldos City of Moreland Karin Hartog, Eamonn Fennessy City of Whittlesea Felicity Ayres City of Yarra Silvana Predebon, Craig McGrath Mitchell Shire Mitchell Shire, whilst not formally represented on the Committee has made detailed comments on various drafts of this version of the strategy. Merri Creek Management Tony Faithfull, Judy Bush, Luisa Macmillan, Ray Radford, Committee Katrina Roberg Friends of Merri Creek Alan Brennan, Allie Dawe, Harold Mackrell, Pascale Pitot, Paul Prentice, Ruth Shiel Friends of Wallan Creek John Robinson Report Production Research and production of the document was undertaken by Tony Faithfull (Project Officer, Merri Creek Management Committee). Cover Photo Merri Creek at Galada Tamboore, looking upstream What is Merri Creek Management Committee? Merri Creek Management Committee Inc. (MCMC) is an environmental coordination and management agency formed in 1989 to achieve a shared vision for the waterway corridors of the Merri catchment. Its members include all municipalities in the catchment: Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Whittlesea, Yarra and Mitchell, plus the Friends of Merri Creek and new member (as of 2006), the Friends of Wallan Creek. Representatives of these member groups form the Committee of Management that guides MCMC’s activities. MCMC’s primary aim is to ensure the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and the ecologically sensitive restoration, development and maintenance of the Merri Creek and tributaries, their corridors and associated ecological communities. It employs specialist and dedicated staff and its’ programs are funded by Council members, by state and federal grant programs, by competitively won tenders, by grants from philanthropic organisations and through sponsorship. MCMC’s mission MCMC respects and honours the spirit of the land and its peoples, indigenous plants and animals, and works with the community to preserve, restore and promote the Merri Creek, its catchment and neighbouring region as a vital living system. MCMC prize winner MCMC was awarded the 2002 Theiss Services National River prize for excellence in waterway management. FOREWORD The Merri Creek Management Committee has been a vibrant, innovative and effective community-based environmental organisation since its formation in 1989. The implementation of much of the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 1999 has been a great achievement that has benefited the creek and the local communities. Now, having reviewed the challenges that exist for the Merri Creek and identified the current issues, objectives, targets and actions, the committee has produced the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014. A feature of the new strategy is the way it addresses local priorities and issues whilst also aligning with region- wide priorities. The strategy specifically uses the objectives and targets of the Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy to frame and guide local objectives, targets and actions. The strategy also provides a very strong basis for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of actions and the improvements to the Merri Creek and environs. On behalf of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, I congratulate the Merri Creek Management Committee and commend the Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009-2014. I look forward to the benefits that its implementation will bring for river health, native habitat, native species, ecosystems, water quality, partnerships, social and amenity improvement and community awareness. DAVID BUNTINE CEO, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Merri Creek and Environs Strategy 2009 -2014 3 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................2 FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................................................3 OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGY ........................................................................................................................6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................14 ORIGINS AND PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY ..............................................................................................................14 Origins ...............................................................................................................................................................14 Purpose ..............................................................................................................................................................14 MERRI CATCHMENT WATERWAYS - AN OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................16 Vision for the Merri catchment waterway corridors ............................................................................18 Objectives .........................................................................................................................................................18 AGENCY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...................................................................................................................20 PART A - LAND ......................................................................................................................................................28 SECTION 1 œ CULTURAL HERITAGE AND VISUAL CHARACTER .............................................................................28 Chapter 1.1 Aboriginal Heritage ................................................................................................................28 Chapter 1.2 Historical Heritage .................................................................................................................35 Chapter 1.3 Visual Character .....................................................................................................................41 SECTION 2 - NATURAL HERITAGE AND LAND MANAGEMENT ...............................................................................52 Chapter 2.1 Biodiversity and habitat networks ....................................................................................53 Chapter 2.2 Geodiversity and Geological Resources ..........................................................................72 Chapter 2.3 Land Management ..................................................................................................................78 Chapter 2.4 Headwaters to Craigieburn Road East .............................................................................86 Chapter 2.5 Craigieburn Road East to Mahoneys Road .....................................................................94 Chapter 2.6 Mahoneys Road to Yarra River .........................................................................................101 PART B - WATER .................................................................................................................................................108 SECTION 3 - SURFACE WATERS , CREEKS AND WETLANDS ...............................................................................109 Chapter 3.1 Stream Morphology, Drainage and Flood Management ...........................................110 Chapter 3.2 Water Quality and Stream Health ..................................................................................120 Chapter 3.3 Aquatic Flora, Fauna and Wetlands ................................................................................134 PART C - COMMUNITY .....................................................................................................................................143 SECTION 4 œ RECREATION , TRAILS , SAFETY , COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION ....................................143 Chapter 4.1 Community Engagement ...................................................................................................146 Chapter 4.2 Recreation ..............................................................................................................................149 Chapter 4.3 Trails and Access ..................................................................................................................153