LOCAL SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE
10 January 2005
While local residents might already enjoy visiting Kororoit Creek in Altona, the Winton Wetlands in Wantirna, or Galada Tamboore in Campbellfield, not all may be aware that they are actually sites of environmental significance.
As homes to important flora and fauna species such as the “Chaffy Saw-sedge” plant and “Tamar River Goby” fish, or significant because of high archaeological values, these local spots benefit from an ongoing Melbourne Water program to maintain and improve 24 sites of environmental significance across Melbourne.
Under the program, more than $500,000 will be invested this financial year, which makes a total of about $1.5 million over the last five years. The sites are all identified as sites of regional and state significance.
Melbourne Water Acting Managing Director Grant Wilson said Melbourne Water was committed to maintaining and improving the sites, which include wetlands, retarding basins, creeks, a lake and a swamp.
“Melbourne Water established the Sites of Environmental Significance program in 1998 to ensure that places with a known, declared conservation significance were managed in an appropriate way,” Mr Wilson said.
“Some of these sites have been recognised for their fauna and flora or cultural significance, and our management of the sites ensures their environmental and historic values are protected.
“The program involves work such as weed control, replanting and fence repairs.”
The 24 sites of environmental significance are:
Colchester Road Retarding Basin on Bungalook Creek, Kilsyth
Canterbury Road Retarding Basin on Bungalook Creek, Bayswater North
Fussell Road Retarding Basin on Bungalook Creek, Montrose
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin on Dandenong Creek, The Basin
Cardinia Creek Retarding Basin, Beaconsfield
Upper Cardinia Creek, Upper Beaconsfield
Police Road Retarding Basin on Dandenong Creek, Rowville
Tirhatuan Wetlands on Dandenong Creek, Rowville
Winton Wetlands on Dandenong Creek, Wantirna
Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands
Little Boggy Creek Retarding Basin, Langwarrin
Monbulk Creek Retarding Basin, Belgrave Heights
Old Joes Creek Retarding Basin, Boronia
Riddell Road Retarding Basin, Riddell Creek, Knoxfield
Yarraman Creek Retarding Basin, Yarraman Creek, Dandenong
Cherry Lake, Altona
Kororoit Creek, Deer Park
Lower Kororoit Creek, Altona
Truganina Swamp, Altona
Tullamarine Retarding Basin Reserve on Moonee Ponds Creek, Westmeadows
Skeleton Creek, Altona Meadows
Andersons Creek North Retarding Basin, Ringwood North
Cardigan Road Retarding Basin on Brushy Creek, Mooroolbark
Galada Tamboore on Merri Creek, Campbellfield