Station
St - Armstrongs Rd
Approximate walking time 30 minutes.
The trail commences from the picnic area in front of the Seaford R.S.L.,
Station Street Seaford.
(1) Mature tea tree
The track heads off through mature tea tree scrub which was saved from
the 1988 fire.
(2) Local and Introduced Plants
On top of the dune beyond the gully local tea tree and coast wattle have
regenerated. Plantings of She-oaks have replaced the introduced Cootamundra
Wattles. Glimpses of the creek are seen as one moves along the track to-
(3)Good Views of the Creek and Open Spaces
From the dune edge beside a couple of dense tea tree thickets, good open
views along the creek can be had. This open area has been restored with
open woodland grasses and small herbs and wildflowers. Running Postman
can be seen, together with some Wallaby grasses as well as Climbing Lignum
and the occasional Showy Bossiaea.
(4) Regenerating Eucalypts and Coast Banksia
The coast banksia is patchy, and additional plantings are to be made.
Several impressive clumps of eucalypt regrowth are by a species not local
to the area. In 1993 plantings of local Manna Gums and Swamp Gums were
made. When developed, the non-local species can be reduced
(5) Old Paperbark Scrub
On the floodplain on the left as one nears the end of the track, one
of the best remaining stands of swamp paperbarks can be seen. These scrubs
were extensive on the Carrum Swamps 100 years ago, but are now rare.
6. Mature Coast Banskias
The trail comes onto Armstrongs Road through an unburnt stand of old
banksias understoried with mature tea tree. It is an excellent reminder
of what the reserve can be restored to.
7. Native Grassland
Returning to Station Street along the adjoining Railway Reserves lets
one see quite a number of local native grasses which have survived in
this undisturbed zone. The KCA is selecting seeds from this source for
plantings in the reserves.
2. Armstrongs Rd - Riviera Crossing
Approximate walking time 20 minutes.
The trail begins near the Armstrongs Rd rail crossing and follows the
top of the dune through to the Riviera Crossing.
(1)
An extensive planting program was made during the autumn and winter of
1992 and many grasses and sedges can be seen along the trail. The marker
locates the site of a copse of Drooping She-oakes (allocasuarina verticillata)
which can be seen off to the sides.
(2)
The trail has been stabilized by a layer of tea- tree chips. These were
produced as part of a fire fuel reduction program when the twiggy branches
of the tea-tree killed in the 1998 wildfire were cut, chipped and returned
to the reserve.
(3)
The She-oaks are the first step in developing two sections of woodlands
in the open areas near the start and near the middle of the reserve.
(4)
The flood plains along this part of Kananook Creek together with the
high dunes where the trail is located offer an opportunity to develop
the creek as a habitat for water birds with a hide built on the dune and
accessed from the trail.
(5)
Nice stands of mature banksia and tea-tree still remain as a reminder
of the past at the northern end of the reserve.
(6)
The trail in this section of the reserve ends at the Riviera Crossing
where a bare area is being regenerated with trees and ground cover, particularly
grasses, sedges and pig face.
(7)
A stroll down the path to the Riviera outfall on Kananook Creek can be
of interest. At this point there is a connecting tunnel to Port Phillip
with control gates from the creek and flow control gates across the creek
below the outfall. The feature allows flood waters coming down the creek
to be diverted to Port Phillip and also allows high water in the creek
to be diverted at low tide.
(8)
On the edge of the reserve between metrail staunches 1185 and 1187 there
is an excellent area of mature grassland with many species of grasses,
sedges, rushes, herbs and wildflowers. This area is a source of seed collection
by the KCA for propagating plants for later planting into the creek reserves.
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The
Kananook walking trail has numerous entry and exit points with 4 main sections;
each section being an easy return walk. For a longer walk, combine two or
more sections. The first section begins near Mile Bridge / Overton Road Frankston
and continues north. The final section concludes at Eel Race Road Carrum.