Restoring the meander as part of the Chain of Ponds
The Westmeadows meander is a waterway that was cut off in the early 1970’s for flood mitigation purposes. Its restoration will have water flow through the meander (with appropriate low flow/high flow controls) and enhance the biodiversity and local amenity values of the area. This has been identified as a priority project for the Chain of Ponds Collaboration Group.
The Moonee Ponds Creek was disconnected from its natural low flow regime, with current low flows in the meander provided by five council stormwater outlets. Upstream of the site is identified as a potential refuge reach that is likely to interact with groundwater and provide drought refuge habitat for the EPBC-listed Growling Grass Frog. This drought refuge link connects the site to the Tarnuk 1.5 km to the West which is a Melbourne Water retarding basin and Site of Biodiversity Significance (SoBS).
One kilometre downstream to the south are the Jacana wetlands and retarding basin, which is also a SoBS that supports the Growling Grass Frog. Other potential benefits for the Westmeadows Meander Project include:
- Creating a space which promotes active living and a healthy lifestyle
- Encourage recreational walking through the site
- Connect the local community to the waterway, public transportation and other local amenities
- Improve diversity of native flora and fauna of the site and downstream in the catchment
- Improve water quality issues on site and down stream
- Improve the safety of the site through increase usage and public connection
- Provide a space for rest and relaxation for the local community
- Provide a place for education and water conservation learnings for the local kindergarten, primary and secondary schools
Themes and Local Areas
| Primary Theme: | Waterways |
| Other Themes: | Native Vegetation, Native Animals, Communities |
| Primary Local Area: | Macedon Ranges, Hume, Mitchell & Whittlesea |
| Other Local Areas: | – |
| Project location: | Westmeadows, on the Moonee Ponds Creek, near Wright Street |
| Scale of the project: | Local |
| New or continuing work: | New project/work |
Project partners
| Lead organisation: | Chain of Ponds Collaboration |
| Key partners: | Chain of Ponds Collaboration partners: Hume, Moreland, Moonee Valley and Melbourne City Councils, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Victorian Planning Authority, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek, Friends of Upper Moonee Ponds Creek, Living Colour Studio, Yarra Valley Water, Moonee BUG, Kensington Association, Greater Western Water |
| Registered Aboriginal Party/s relevant to the project or its area: | Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation |
Investment opportunities
| Opportunities for investors within this project start from: | $$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated scale of investment for full project implementation: | $$$ (Hundreds of thousands of dollars) |
| Estimated timeframe for full project implementation: | 1-2 years |
Contribution toward targets
| Primary Regional Catchment Strategy target: | Achieve an average score for waterway amenity of HIGH for the Maribyrnong catchment Native Animals – Wild populations of all threatened native animal species in the region are retained and their populations are self-sustainable, secure, healthy and resilient |
| Relevant Biodiversity 2037 goal: | Support people to connect with nature |
| Relevant National Landcare Program priority: | Ecological communities – Grey Box Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia – Condition improved |
More information
Damien Harrison at Hume City Council – damienh@hume.vic.gov.au
