At the start of works to upgrade Dandenong Creek were from left, Ash Roberts (from contractors GHD), Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos, Greater Dandenong chief executive officer Carl Wulff, Melbourne Water project manager Phil Corulka, Saman Kanakara from TNE, Deiter Damon from Melbourne Water and GHD’s David Balshan.WORKS have begun on the rejuvenation of a threekilometre stretch of the Dandenong Creek to attract fish and wildlife to the estuary and reduce erosion.
Melbourne Water will spend $500,000 on the creek between Clow Street and the Monash Freeway.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos said the creek had deteriorated and was now in a poor condition.
“Some of the creek banks are quite degraded and soil from the eroding banks is also contributing an increased amount of sediment to the creek,” Mr Pandazopoulos said.
“The works will involve stabilising the creek bed and banks and replanting indigenous trees and shrubs.”
He said the project would protect one of the community’s valuable assets.
Melbourne Water manager Rob Skinner said almost $3.5 million had been spent on works along the Dandenong Creek in the last five years.
“This work has focused on erosion control, replanting native plants and establishing a major wetland to treat storm water runoff,” Mr Skinner said.
“These improvement works are helping to ensure the continued survival of the threatened dwarf galaxias, fish and growling grass frogs that have been found in the Dandenong Creek catchment.”
The creek stabilisation works will take 12 weeks to complete.
Replanting is expected to begin in spring and continue in autumn next year.
