Blackburn Lake SanctuaryWetlands Project

Whitehorse City Council and Melbourne Water are proposing to upgrade the main inlet to the Lake by creating new wetlands.

The proposed wetlands are a major project from the Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Master Plan, which underwent extensive community consultation in 1998 / 1999.

The project is located along the entire length of the creek between Central Road and the northern end of the lake. Presently this section of creek is very degraded; it is eroded and has a range of woody weeds and some native vegetation.

The wetlands project is an opportunity to:

• Upgrade this part of the park to a quality that is more consistent with the rest of the Sanctuary
• Improve water quality, which has been a particular concern to Whitehorse Council and
• Melbourne Water in recent years
• Improve habitat for fauna by replanting the site with suitable indigenous species and the creation of water bodies
• Provide a better experience and improved accessibility for park visitors
• Improve access for park maintenance and adjoining land-locked private property.

The wetlands project is planned to be undertaken in stages:

Stage 1, in 2001 1 2002 will rehabilitate the creek from Central Road to the rail-less timber pedestrian bridge. Stage 1 includes:

• A new feature bridge to replace the existing concrete culvert used to access numbers 130 138 Central Road. The bridge will be a rustic style to complement the bushland character of the park and will be suitable for pedestrians.
• Earthworks to create a chain of 3 ponds and draw sediment from the water before it enters the lake. The sediment ponds will include rockwork to control erosion and water velocity and to oxygenate the water. Various sized rock in brownish tones is to be used which will add landscape interest.
• Protection of an existing small Lily pond nearby.
• Rock retaining walls to protect the large Yellow Box trees.
• Retention of a row of Pines along Central Road.
• Vegetation removal which is a necessary part of the excavation works to create the ponds. This will involve removal of woody weeds such as Pines, Prunus and Pittosporum. There are however, a number of native and local / indigenous species that will also need to be removed. Most of the indigenous species to be removed are relatively small.
• Intensive revegetation using local / indigenous species across the project site. The revegetation, which will include aquatic and terrestrial species, will be substantial and will more than replace the vegetation that needs to be removed to construct the wetlands.
• Placement of "habitat trees" into the wetland using timber from existing dead trees on the site.
• Construction of gravel pedestrian trails to enable access to the wetlands.

Stage 2, in subsequent financial years, involves creation of a filtration system for the water flow before it reaches the lake. Stage 2 will involve:

• Earthworks and some rockwork.
• Vegetation removal including the woody weeds and willows along the creek edge, which have been treated in recent years.
• Intensive indigenous revegetation including some structured bands of vegetation to filter the water flows.

Melbourne Water and Whitehorse City Council are jointly funding the project. Stage 1 is proposed to be undertaken during this Autumn / Winter 2002.

Aspects of Stage 1 require a Planning Approval before the project can proceed. The formal notification process for the Planning Permit Application is currently in progress. The design for Stage 1 of the wetland proposal is on display at:

• Blackburn Lake Sanctuary - At the project site (Central Road frontage) and on the Education Centre notice board.
• The Whitehorse Civic Centre (where the full application can be viewed - just ask at the Planning counter)
• The Box Hill and Forest Hill Service Centres
• The Whitehorse Council Web Site.

Questions about the Planning Permit Application process should be directed to Darren Wong, Planning Department on Ph: 9262 6520.

For questions about the proposed wetlands contact Allison Egan, Parks Planning & Recreation Department on 9262 6389.

Adapted from City Of Whitehorse Notice