Dandenong Catchment
The Dandenong Catchment includes the following waterways:
- Dandenong Creek
- Blind Creek
- Corthanwarrabul, Monbulk and Ferny Creeks
- Eumemmerring Creek
- Kananook Creek
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Monitors in the Dandenong Catchment
The following Community Groups are currently involved in the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Program in the Dandenong Catchment:
- Wheeler’s Hill Lions Club Group
- Friends of Damper Creek
- Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands
- Kananook Creek Association
- Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands
- Friends of Braeside Park
- Friends of Karkarook Park
- Wannarkladdin Wetlands
- Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League
- Yammerbook Wetlands
- Greater Dandenong Environment Group
- Friends of Fotheringham Reserve
- Action Sweetwater Creek
- Knox Environment Society
- First Friends of Dandenong Creek
- Friends of Sherbrooke Forest
To find out how your community group can become involved in the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Program, or to join an existing monitoring group, please contact us.
Dandenong Creek
Dandenong Creek begins in Doongalla Forest near Mount Dandenong. Due largely to the surrounding forest, these reaches remain ecologically healthy. The upper Dandenong Creek system (including Dobsons Creek) and Monbulk Creek support the only substantial platypus populations in the Dandenong Valley. Powerful owls roost along upper Dobsons and Dandenong Creek. The Dandenong Creek source also has high social value associated with the National Park. Weeds and barriers to the movement of aquatic life are the key risks to river health in this area.
Middle to upper Dandenong Creek includes the catchment upstream of Dandenong to upper Dandenong Creek and Dobsons Creek at The Basin. This catchment incorporates a number of other creeks, including Heatherdale, Bungalook, Tarralla and Old Joes. Upper Dandenong and Dobsons creeks are home to a number of important species including the threatened Dandenong freshwater amphipod. Unfortunately, river health tends to decline dramatically in the urban and industrial areas downstream. Despite the poor condition of rivers and creeks, the presence of threatened flora and fauna species including Yarra gums, dwarf galaxias, swamp skinks and growling grass frog represent important environmental values. The extensive network of bike paths, parks and reserves associated with rivers and creeks throughout the catchment also contribute to high visitation numbers. The Dandenong Valley Parklands are enjoyed by more than 700,000 visitors each year, and support a wide range of social amenities, bird habitat, remnant vegetation and conservation area. Key risks to river health in the middle and upper Dandenong include:
- urban stormwater
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life
- weeds; and
- lack of streamside vegetation
Lower Dandenong Creek commences at Dandenong. The catchment has a strong urban and industrial influence, although rural zones exist around Bangholme and Keysborough. While the environmental values are generally low, native fish populations are good in the lower reaches and a number of threatened flora and fauna species such as the growling grass frog are present. The Edithvale Wetlands are internationally significant for migratory birds under the Ramsar convention. The National Watersports Centre is popular for boating, fishing and passive recreation. The former Carrum swamp area also has Aboriginal heritage value. Key risks to river health include urban stormwater, barriers to the migration of aquatic life, weeds and a lack of streamside vegetation.
Blind Creek
Blind Creek has a largely urban catchment, although its headwaters are within the Dandenong Ranges National Park. The creek flows through Ferntree Gully and Wantirna South before entering Dandenong Creek at Scoresby. Although though the creek generally has low environmental value, significant species such as threatened Yarra gums and dwarf galaxias have been recorded in recent years. The area has an extensive bike path along the creek between Ferntree Gully and Nortons Park, Wantirna South. Risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life; and
- lack of streamside vegetation
Corthanwarrabul, Monbulk and Ferny Creeks
Corhanwarrabul Creek is a major tributary of middle Dandenong Creek, originating in the Dandenong Ranges around Sherbrooke and meeting Dandenong Creek at the Police Road wetlands, Rowville. Major creeks include Monbulk, Ferny, Ferntree Gully and Clematis creeks. Much of the catchment is urbanised, although significant forested areas exist in the headwaters and some rural land use occurs along Monbulk Creek. Environmental values are moderate to good, with better reaches tending to be in the headwaters. Monbulk Creek is one of only two systems in the Dandenong Valley known to support platypus, and the threatened Dandenong freshwater amphipod is present in Ferny and Ferntree Gully creeks. Corhanwarrabul Creek and its tributaries also rate highly for social values such as the National Park, Birds Land Reserve and Belgrave Lake Park. Key risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life; and
- weeds
Eumemmerring Creek
Rivers and creeks in this unit, including Eumemmerring, Troups, Ti Tree creeks, Hallam Main Drain and Eastern Contour Drain cover areas of Lyndhurst, Hampton Park and Endeavour Hills. Land use is largely urban and rapidly expanding. While environmental condition is generally low, the presence of threatened growling grass frog and dwarf galaxias is noteworthy. The recent construction of several water quality treatment wetlands to reduce pollutants entering Port Phillip Bay, such as the Hampton Park Wetlands, are also important environmental features. Lysterfield Park and several bike paths are among the notable social values. Key risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life
- weeds; and
- lack of streamside vegetation
The Kananook Creek
The Kananook Creek catchment incorporates areas such as Frankston, Seaford and Carrum Downs. Major tributaries are Boggy Creek, Tamarisk Creek and Eel Race Drain. The Seaford Wetlands, internationally significant for migratory birds under the Ramsar convention, are located in this catchment. The Langwarrin and Pines Flora and Fauna reserves are also important conservation reserves. Threatened flora and fauna species such as the swamp skink, growling grass frog and dwarf galaxias have been recorded and, overall, the catchment has moderate environmental value. The Kananook Creek estuary, parks, reserves and paths provide recreational opportunities. The creek precinct is captured as a priority within the State Government’s Transit Cities Program. The precinct has been identified as the greatest opportunity to re-establish links with the waterfront and to facilitate urban renewal in the form of new mixed use residential development. This will be orientated around a new pedestrian promenade to be created on the east bank of the creek within the city centre. This promenade will connect to a seven kilometre walking trail adjacent to the creek which links Frankston and Carrum. Key risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life
- weeds; and
- lack of streamside vegetation
Melbourne Water has developed the Index of River Condition (IRC) program to provide an overall integrated measure of the environmental condition of rivers. To find out more about the health of these rivers and creeks visit Melbourne Water’s website or request Healthy Waterways Waterwatch data.
