Moonee Ponds Creek

Moonee Ponds Creek Implementation Plan

The Moonee Ponds Creek is a unifying north-south spine linking several central city urban renewal precincts. It is an under-utilised biodiversity and community asset.

Before European settlement, the Moonee Ponds Creek was a travel route and water and food source for Aboriginal people.

After 1835, the creek was used as an industrial drain and transport corridor and as a result was highly polluted. Since the 1980s local community groups, including the Friends of the Moonee Ponds Creek, have been working hard to protect the creek and today the creek is cleaner than in the past.

Areas near the creek, including Arden, Macaulay and Docklands are now undergoing significant renewal, and a major freeway connecting CityLink to the West Gate Tunnel is being built above the creek. These projects present a significant opportunity to further revitalise the creek and its surrounds.

Click on the below image to launch an interactive map showcasing the project challenges and opportunities:

Interactive map of the Moonee Ponds Creek Implementation Plan

Project information

The implementation plan focuses on the section of the Creek that extends from Mt Alexander Road south to the Yarra River.

The project will support the delivery of the vision for the future of the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor. It will also:

  • develop an implementation plan that recommends governance, priorities and accountabilities for the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor
  • facilitate the commencement of projects  that can be delivered in the short-term and
  • provide a roadmap for the delivery of medium- to long-term projects.

The Moonee Ponds Creek Strategic Opportunities Plan is an advocacy document created by the City of Melbourne that details the various initiatives for the creek that council would like to see realised.

This plan proposes a linear green corridor along the creek within the City of Melbourne area and identifies many projects to revegetate the creek.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) will co-ordinate an implementation plan for the project area that complements the City of Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds Creek Strategic Opportunities Plan. The implementation plan will identify the projects that are most achievable in the short-term, supported by the City of Melbourne and endorsed by community members. The VPA will work with all stakeholders, including current landowners, government agencies and the City of Melbourne to form its advice to the Victorian Government.

The revitalisation of the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor is a long-term ambition that will likely take many years to complete, and not all projects will be delivered straight away. We are now identifying projects to start the project area’s revitalisation.

When planning for the land surrounding the creek, it is important we balance both the ecological and social benefits of the area and the needs of the state-significant assets in the area that are essential to Victoria’s economy.

Various state government agencies and some private landowners own and manage parcels of the creek.  Much of the land is leased from VicTrack to public transport providers and commercial operations, while the lower portion is owned by Port of Melbourne Operations.

Summary of Land Owner and Land Management Responsibilities along the creek

Melbourne Water

The creek itself is owned by Melbourne Water. They are responsible for managing and protecting this water resource on behalf of the community, including guaranteeing the supply of affordable, high-quality water, reliable sewerage, healthy waterways, integrated drainage and flood management. Councils, however, are responsible for local drainage.  Within the City of Melbourne area, council manages most of the local flood mitigation connected to the creek, while Melbourne Water is responsible for whole-of-catchment water management and planning. For more information, refer to www.melbournewater.com.au

VicTrack

VicTrack owns Victoria’s transport land, assets and infrastructure.  VicTrack is the nominal landowner for large portions of land along the creek within the City of Melbourne, which is managed by other agencies, primarily for transport purposes. For more information, refer to www.victrack.com.au

Port of Melbourne Operations

Port of Melbourne Operations owns the titles to the land and creek area at the bottom of the creek. The commercial lease of the Port of Melbourne includes responsibility for managing that area. For more information, refer to www.portofmelbourne.com

City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne manages most of the local flood mitigation connected to the creek, while Melbourne Water is responsible for whole-of-catchment water management and planning. For more information, refer to www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

In August 2019 council adopted the final Strategic Opportunities Plan and will use it to advocate for progressing the concept of the creek corridor as a linear green space. The VPA is working in consultation with council and state agencies to create and submit the Moonee Ponds Creek Implementation Plan to government.