What to expect
While we will make every effort to ensure inconveniences are kept to a minimum, there will be some local impacts:
New Pedestrian Bridge Installation
To enable the safe crane lift of the bridge at Margaret St in the last weekend of August:
- the current bridge will be closed for 1 day
- Brosnan Cres between Odin St to Strathmore North Primary School will be closed
- pedestrian detours will be in place at both ends of the bridge.
Signed detours and traffic controllers will guide users around the work area.
The bridge is expected to open in September, weather permitting.
Path closure – Pedestrian path from Margaret St to Oak Park Reserve
The path from Margaret St to Oak Park Reserve will be closed from the last week of August to the end of September, to complete the boardwalk and new path. Temporary access is via Margaret St and Main St. For your safety please follow the detour route via the signs.
Shared path detours
For the safety of everyone, some shared paths will be closed during the works. Pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured along Mascoma and Odin Streets for the entire project (please see the detour map). Thank you for your patience and understanding of these short-term inconveniences as we work to improve your shared path network.
Traffic changes
- Construction vehicle traffic: there will be an increase in large vehicle movements in the local area as materials and equipment are delivered for the works. Construction access is via Main Street for the channel works and concrete trucks will be visible on Brosnan Crescent for the shared path works.
- Traffic management will be in place to ensure access to local streets and properties is maintained at all times throughout the project.
Parking
- For heavy vehicles to access the works area, there will be temporary changes to parking, including the removal of parking along the north side of Main Street between 7am-4pm on weekdays. Parking will remain available on the south side of Main Street.
Noise
- A site compound has been established at the corner of Main Street, next to the Oak Park Reserve. This will remain here for the whole project.
- Noise is expected from construction machinery, vehicles and equipment. A bypass pump will be in place during the installation of in-stream rockwork (on the bottom of the creek channel) to divert water around the works zone. The pump needs to run on a continual basis, and there will be some noise from this. We are very mindful of the pump's location in a residential area, and we have made every effort to install the most effective noise-reducing measures around it as we can. We'll also turn off the pump when site conditions allow, and when it’s not needed for our activities.
We thank you for your patience and cooperation while we carry out these works.
FAQs
- Why was the creek lined with concrete?
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Between the 1940s and 1980s, like many urban waterways, the Moonee Ponds Creek from Strathmore to Flemington Road was highly modified, realigned and concreted by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), to carry flood water away from properties in the most efficient manner possible – which was considered best practice at the time.
Waterway management and drainage approaches have evolved over time to better recognise the environmental and social value of natural waterways, and for these values to be managed in harmony with the drainage services they also provide. Current thinking now better recognises the value that restoring previously engineered stormwater channels to more natural systems (creek naturalisation) contributes to liveable communities and waterway health.
- Why was this section of Moonee Ponds Creek chosen to ‘reimagine’ over other sections?
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The Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek project covers a 360-metre section of the most northerly concreted section of the creek in Oak Park and Strathmore. Through community feedback that informed the Chain of Ponds Strategic Plan in 2018, this particular section of the creek was identified as a priority area as it was the last section of the creek to be concreted, and represents the most upstream section of concrete channel.
- Why is only a 360 metre section of creek being naturalised?
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The naturalisation of large concrete channels like Moonee Ponds Creek can unfortunately be very costly. This is primarily due to the significant excavation required to remove the concrete and reshape the waterway to recreate a more natural form, making strong delivery partnerships essential in the delivery of large naturalisation projects. This project was also a pilot to demonstrate how Moonee Ponds Creek could be naturalised more cost-effectively in the future, so it was important to start small.
- Why can’t all the concrete be completely removed?
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Due to low levels of PFAS in the soil beneath the concrete base of the creek channel (something we discovered during preliminary investigations for the project in 2021), a decision was made to leave the concrete base in place, essentially locking the PFAS in the soil. This decision was mainly based on the high additional costs associated with the transport and disposal of contaminated soil off site at a designated waste management facility, and making the best use of the funds we have.
By installing rockwork on top of the concrete base, rather than removing the concrete, a similar ‘naturalised’ look will still be achieved.
- What is PFAS – is it harmful?
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PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of manufactured chemicals. All of us are exposed to small amounts of PFAS in everyday life. This is through exposure to dust, indoor and outdoor air, food, water, and contact with consumer products that contain PFAS, such as clothing, carpets and non-stick cookware. In the past, fire-fighting foams also contained PFAS. There are low levels of PFAS in soil, sediment, water and animals across most of Victoria. This is unlikely to be harmful to human health, and recent studies show people's exposure to PFAS in the general environment is reducing. However, there are still many unknown factors about how PFAS affects human health. This is why the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) takes a precautionary approach and advises Victorians to take care and reduce their exposure to PFAS.
- What’s being done with the concrete that’s removed?
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The concrete is being taken to a recycling facility where it will be crushed and then undergo a process called ‘thermal desorption’, which removes the PFAS through heat. The resultant clean concrete can then be re-purposed and used for other projects that need concrete.
- What about asbestos?
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Upon testing, it was revealed that soil in the project area contains fragments of non-friable asbestos. Non-friable asbestos is lower risk compared to other types of asbestos as it is more difficult to become airborne. In line with contamination handling guidelines, a licenced contractor wearing recommended safety equipment will undertake the removal to ensure that the risk remains negligible. While not required by regulations, Melbourne Water will take a conservative approach and engage a health and safety consultant to monitor air quality in the area to ensure that it remains at safe levels to the public.
- Are there future plans to naturalise more sections of Moonee Ponds Creek?
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The Chain of Ponds Collaboration Group sets a long term strategic plan to progressively transform Moonee Ponds Creek into an iconic waterway for Melbourne that provides high social, cultural and environmental benefits.
The Collaboration has developed a prospectus identifying a number of priorities for advocacy and delivery. Working groups have been established around these priorities, determining ways to deliver projects using a catchment-wide approach. More information on key projects that are currently underway can be found here: https://chainofponds.org/
It is envisaged that if the Reimagining Moonee Ponds Creek project is successfully delivered and shows a good return on investment with strong community support, that this will help to leverage funding for naturalising other sections of the creek in the future.
- What about asbestos?
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Upon testing, it was revealed that soil in the project area contains fragments of non-friable asbestos. Non-friable asbestos is lower risk compared to other types of asbestos as it is more difficult to become airborne. In line with contamination handling guidelines, a licenced contractor wearing recommended safety equipment will undertake the removal to ensure that the risk remains negligible. While not required by regulations, Melbourne Water will take a conservative approach and engage a health and safety consultant to monitor air quality in the area to ensure that it remains at safe levels to the public.
Reimagining Your Creek Program
Melbourne Water’s Reimagining Your Creek Program works collaboratively with councils, communities, Traditional Owners and local residents to transform stormwater drains and concrete channels into natural waterways and desirable open spaces.
The program has seen the transformation of sections of Taralla Creek in Croydon, Arnolds Creek in Melton West, and Blind Creek in Boronia. Works are currently in progress for the program’s biggest project along Blind Creek from Scoresby Road to Lewis Park in Wantirna South.
Comprehensive flood modelling is always undertaken to ensure that there will be no increased flooding risk to the local community or downstream users as a result of these projects.
Community bulletins
Contact us
If you have questions or feedback on the project, please get in touch with the project team:
1800 952 911
[email protected]