Cardinia Creek concerns

Alex Smart. 164152_07 Photo: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Alex Smart*

The Cardinia Creek has been a critical bio-link from the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges to Westernport Bay.

Draining the Kooweerup swamp, land clearing, farming practices and housing have all contributed to severe deterioration of the environmental values of the creek.

Attempts to ameliorate these problems and accommodate our social changes are most welcome.

Of course I don’t expect anyone to read this report was which released by Parks Vic in 2002 but the executive summary (pages 8-9) are very similar to what is being said 19 years later (https://vpa-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parks-Victoria_Cardinia-Creek-Parklands-Future-Directions-Plan_2002-12.pdf).

Unfortunately, to date, very little of this plan has been implemented.

The scope of the plan from Harkaway foothills/Guys Hill and 10km downstream is quite similar to the current plan which may go a little further downstream to McCormacks Rd Clyde.

It was a brilliant decision in 1994 it to reserve >400ha of mostly farmland for Cardinia Creek Parklands around Inglis Rd covering the Cardinia and Grasmere Creeks.

However until recent years very little funding has been allocated and about two thirds remains leased by Parks Vic as farmland.

Since 2011 Parks Vic and Greenfleet established a small forest of indigenous trees.

Greenfleet funds tree plantings to offset carbon emissions from motor vehicles.

That small block of forest has done reasonably well but there has been no follow-up plantings of understory plants on which effective biodiversity depends. Much more revegetation needs be done.

Over the past few years $4 million has been spent reintroducing a wetland on Grasmere Creek which is a vital tributary of Cardinia Creek.

The wetland is brilliant and attracting back a range of native birds. With paths upgraded utilisation by walkers, cyclists and naturalists has increased significantly.

Safe access for walkers and cyclists coming from Emerald Rd must be provided as three narrow bridges on Inglis Rd are dangerous.

From Inglis Rd to the Princes Hwy the creek is in a reasonable condition. For 20 years volunteers from Friends of Cardinia Creek have operated along that reach with cooperation from Casey and Cardinia Councils.

Some funding from peri-urban weed projects has helped control invasive weeds. From the Princess Hwy to Beaconsfield Station is an environmental disaster. On the eastern bank housing development has removed almost every vestige of indigenous vegetation.

Even Bob Burgess Reserve near the Highway has little more than Manna Gums. On the western side the Haileybury school property has been cleared to the creek bank.

This creates an opportunity for the school the reinstate indigenous vegetation as part of environmental appreciation and education classes. Another problem in this reach is there is no pedestrian access along the creek from the Hwy to the station. This should be provided.

Land from Beaconsfield Station downstream to McCormacks Rd Clyde has been privately held and no access has been available. Satellite images show much indigenous vegetation has been cleared to the creek bank. Major revegetation plantings will be required. With proposed changes from farmland to urban developments massive funding will be required to create enjoyable parklands.

For health and well-being walking/cycling paths are vital. However to protect the environment paths should be only on one side of the creek with priority given to the environment on the opposite side. Where critical environment needs to be protected paths should be away from the creek with occasional nodes for access to the creek. An example is for Platypus habitat.

After 1983 Ash Wednesday Platypus were considered extinct in the Cardinia Creek and in a trial tagged Platypus were reintroduced several years ago. Trapping by scientists have found young and the population is considered now to be stable in the upstream reaches of the parklands. In those areas it is vital the Melbourne Water requirement that dogs be on leash should be applied.

My wife and I found this Echidna in the Beaconsfield Nature Reserve along the Cardinia Creek near Emerald Rd. His habitat needs to be protected.

With the first call for comments closing soon their will remain plenty of opportunities to review draft plans and to appeal for funding to bring about desirable changes for our community and environment.

* Alex Smart is president of the Australian Plants Society- Wilson Park Berwick Group.