Plan to revitalise southern reaches of Moonee Ponds Creek
Media Release
The City of Melbourne will consider a draft opportunities plan to revitalise Moonee Ponds Creek with a chain of parklands, new open spaces and wetlands.
Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Environment portfolio Councillor Cathy Oke said the draft plan includes a series of ideas for the revitalisation of the lower reaches of the creek from Brunswick Road to Docklands.
“We’re considering this plan as an advocacy tool to reconnect the community to this vital waterway. The plan outlines ideas for increased biodiversity, mitigating the impacts of flooding, creating new bike paths and more space for recreation,” Councillor Oke said
“Moonee Ponds Creek has been negatively impacted over many years by industry and infrastructure. This plan sets a vision to rehabilitate the creek and advocate for the delivery of a series of projects to increase its ecological, economic and recreational value.”
The draft Strategic Opportunities Plan will be considered by Councillors at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Tuesday 19 March 2019.
The plan has been created collaboratively with the Victorian Planning Authority and includes a project to replace the concrete channel with a reconstructed and rehabilitated chain of ponds to celebrate water in our landscape and to mitigate the impacts of flooding.
Other projects outlined in the plan include increased habitat for threatened species, increased indigenous plantings, new pedestrian and bike paths and opportunities to acknowledge and learn more about the important cultural heritage of the creek.
The plan builds on and complements the Chain of Ponds Masterplan developed by Moreland and Moonee Valley Councils to the north, and reflects the City of Melbourne’s Open Space Strategy and Municipal Integrated Water Management Plans.
“The lower reaches of Moonee Ponds Creek are set to become some of the most intensely developed parts of Greater Melbourne,” Councillor Oke said.
“This growth will be driven by a chain of urban renewal areas that run along the creek, from Arden and Macaulay in the north to Dynon, E-Gate and Docklands in the south.”
“If endorsed, we will seek feedback from the community on our ideas for terraced landscaping, integrated flood mitigation measures, native vegetation and recreation facilities.”
One of the key opportunities identified is to create ‘Macaulay Terraces’, a major new open space and community meeting point connecting the creek to Macaulay Train Station and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The draft plan sets out opportunities across three sections of the creek within the City of Melbourne:
- North: from Brunswick Road to Racecourse Road,
- Central: from Racecourse Road to Dynon Road, and
- South: from Dynon Road to the Yarra River.
While the City of Melbourne does not own or manage the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor, it plays an important role in working with the Victorian Government partners, landowners, neighbouring councils and community groups to ensure that Moonee Ponds Creek meets the needs of both the current and future community.
City of Melbourne Media Adviser: Claire Sinni, 0432 853 973
(03) 9658 8642 / claire.sinni@Melbourne.vic.gov.au
Visit the City of Melbourne's Online Media Centre: www.Melbourne.vic.gov.au/mediacentre
