Case Study - Merricks Creek Restoration Project
Merricks Creek Catchment, Mornington Peninsula
Merricks Creek is on Mornington Peninsula and its catchment covers approximately 52 square kilometres from Merricks North to Balnarring Beach. It includes the Coolart Creek and Tulum Creek catchments.
Flowing through productive farmland, vineyards and reserves, the creeks also support rich wetlands and are home to many native fish and animals.
Over some years, changed land use and urban development has altered the catchment's ecology, resulting in reduced flow and water quality, more weeds and less native vegetation.
In 2007 and 2008, Melbourne Water brought together private landowners, a local environment group and government agencies to identify ways to help restore the creeks.
The project complemented Melbourne Water's ongoing works in the 'bed and banks' of the three creeks.
Click on the map to see larger view of the Merricks Creek catchment area. (PDF, 2.8mb)
Activities
2007 and 2008 saw:
- Meetings
- Site visits
- A community forum
- Weed removal and revegetation with native plants.
Discussions helped to identify and prioritise works to take place on both private and public land.
People and organisations
- Private landowners
- Merricks Coolart Catchment Group
- Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- Parks Victoria
- Melbourne Water
Benefits
More is being done on private and public land beside and in the creeks to:
- improve vegetation on creek banks and in the riparian zone
- reduce erosion
- help water quality and flow
- bring back more wildlife.
Grants to landowners from Melbourne Water have led to 1.7 km of new stream frontage fencing to keep farm animals away from creek edges. Also, almost 20,000 new native plants have been planted to reduce erosion and attract native birds and animals.
Moving forward
Melbourne Water is continuing its ongoing improvement works in the creeks. Our works are being helped by the commitment of Council, Parks Victoria and private landowners and other locals to identify and carry out works to make these creeks better again.
More information
- Contact us online
- Melbourne Water grants for farmers and other landowners
- Stream Frontage Management Program