Peninsula Creeks
This area includes:
Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Monitors in the Mornington Peninsula Catchments
The following Community Groups are currently involved in the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Program in the Mornington Peninsula catchments:
- Balnarring Wetlands Committee
- Balcombe Creek Estuary Rehabilitation Group – Augusta Street
- Balcombe Creek Estuary Rehabilitation Group – Balcombe Creek Tributaries
- Friends of Chinaman’s Creek
- Main Creek Catchment Landcare Group
- Manton’s and Stony Creek Landcare
- Merricks-Coolart Catchment Group
- Merricks Beach Drainage
- Mornington Peninsula National Park – Main Creek
- Mount Eliza Association for Environmental Care – Upper Balcombe Creek
- Sunshine Creek Reserve Conservation and Fireguard Group
- Tanti Creek Friends
- Warringine Park
- Watson Creek Catchment Group - Friends of the Brahma Kumaris
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.
North-Eastern Peninsula Creeks
The north-eastern Peninsula creeks flow into Western Port and include several small creeks including Watsons, Olivers, Kings and Warringine creeks. Most have rural-urban catchments and support significant fauna such as the Swamp Skink and Southern Toadlet. Reserves in the Hastings area include the Warringine Heritage Park. Risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater
- elevated nutrients in some rural areas
- weeds; and
- lack of streamside vegetation
Poor water quality from Watsons Creek poses a risk to Yaringo Marine National Park.
South-Eastern Peninsula Creeks
Creeks within the South-Eastern Peninsula include Merricks, Coolart, East, Stony, Manton and Main creeks. These rivers and creeks flow into Western Port between Somers and Flinders or Bass Strait. They have mainly rural catchments, with some urban centres and remnant forest (particularly associated with the Mornington Peninsula National Park). River Blackfish, Mountain Galaxias, Swamp Skink, Southern Toadlet and the Growling Grass frog have all been recorded within this area. These rivers and creeks also contains sites of significant Aboriginal and European heritage. Risks to river health include:
- changes to natural stream flows
- poor water quality; and
- stock access
West Peninsula Creeks
West Peninsula creeks consist of several small coastal waterways that flow into Port Phillip between Mount Martha and Rosebud. Creeks in this area include Balcombe, Devilbend, Brokil, Dunns, Sheepwash and Drum Drum Alloc. The catchment is a mix of urban and rural areas. A number of parks and reserves also exist, including Briars Park and Arthurs Seat State Park. These rivers and creeks include populations of threatened Swamp Skinks, Growling Grass frogs, Dwarf Galaxias and native orchids. Passive recreation is valued in many of these rivers and creeks. Key risks to river health include:
- urban stormwater; 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.
