Bunyip River
This map includes:
Bunyip River
The catchment includes the Upper Bunyip River and tributaries upstream of the Princes Highway. Most of the catchment is within State forest, although rural land use dominates the lower reaches around Tonimbuk and Labertouche. Major tributaries include Back, Diamond and Dyer creeks. Environmental values are high, with many reaches considered to be ecologically healthy. Several significant species occur within the upper Bunyip system, including Azure Kingfishers and Powerful Owls. Risks include:
- lack of streamside vegetation; and
- barriers to the migration of fish and other aquatic life
Middle and Upper Bunyip Rivers
This area includes Yallock Creek, Monomeith Drain and the Bunyip River and its tributaries from the Princes Highway to Western Port near Koo Wee Rup. Land use in the catchment is predominantly rural with small urban zones associated with townships such as Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Drouin South. Prior to European settlement, the Koo Wee Rup Swamp covered most of this area. The swamp was drained and many of the rivers and creeks are today highly modified agricultural drains. Parts that still retain some natural form include the section of the Bunyip River immediately downstream of the Princes Highway, lower Yallock Creek and upper Musk and King Parrot Creeks. In general, environmental values are moderate to poor although significant species such as the Australian Grayling, Azure Kingfisher, Giant Gippsland Earthworm and Growling Grass Frog are present. The lower Bunyip River and Yallock systems have notable economic and social value associated with agricultural productivity, European heritage and fishing. The former Koo Wee Rup Swamp area also has significance for Aboriginal communities because it provided a wide range of native plants and animals for the Mayune balug clan of the Boon Wurrung people. Key risks include:
- water quality
- lack of streamside vegetation
- stock access
- changes to natural stream flows; and
- barriers to the migration of fish and other aquatic life
Tarago River
The Tarago River is a major tributary of the Bunyip River. Its headwaters are within the Tarago State Forest and flow into the Tarago Reservoir at Neerim. Downstream of the reservoir, the Tarago flows through the towns of Rokeby and Robin Hood before meeting the Bunyip River at Longwarry North. Tributaries include Labertouche, Whisky, Gum Scrub, and Spion Kopje creeks. Much of the catchment is forested upstream of Tarago Reservoir, although rural land use is considerable along the Tarago River East Branch. Downstream of the reservoir, the catchment is mostly rural with some small townships and forested areas such as the headwaters of Labertouche and Red Jacket creeks. The upper Tarago is considered ecologically healthy and the lower reaches retain good environmental values including, native fish (such as Australian grayling and river blackfish) and a very healthy platypus population. Other significant species include the Warragul Burrowing Cray, Giant Gippsland Earthworm and Strzelecki Gum. The Tarago system is also valued for fishing. Risks to river health include:
- lack of streamside vegetation
- stock access
- weeds
- water quality; and
- barriers to the migration of aquatic life
Cardinia, Toomuc, Deep and Ararat creeks
Cardinia, Toomuc, Deep and Ararat creeks, including Gum Scrub Creek, cover a large portion of the northern Westernport catchment and incorporates areas such as Upper Beaconsfield, Nar Nar Goon and Dalmore. Land use in the highlands is generally low-density drinking water storage. Historically, these rivers and creeks were disconnected from the bay by the former Koo Wee Rup Swamp. Notable fauna include native fish, frogs and the swamp skink. Many of these significant species occur along Cardinia Creek. In addition, platypus have successfully re-established in upper Cardinia following recent translocation. Social values are also important, particularly in upper Cardinia Creek where there is fishing, sites of significant European heritage and passive recreation. Risks to river health include:
- urban development
- lack of streamside vegetation
- stock access
- poor water quality; and
- changes to natural stream flows
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 Waterwatch data.
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