SCENE 1

Reimagining Your CreekArnold’s Creek

ReimaginingYour Creek

Reimagining Blind CreekThe Reimagining Blind Creek project aims to create a desirable open space where people can interact with nature. It’s also about improving the connection between the people who use the space and what the place will be in the future. The section of Blind Creek to be redesigned extends from Manuka Drive to Scoresby Road Boronia.

Capturing your ideas In April 2018 we began sharing information about our Reimagining Blind Creek project.

We attended community events, recruited a Community Advisory Group and held meetings with our project partners.

We implemented a range of face-to-face and online activities to ensure you had opportunities to share your ideas and suggestions - and to identify priorities for how the creek could be redesigned.

Using this information, we developed initial concepts. These were shared with the community in early August.

Based on your suggestions and feedback, we developed a clear understanding of what was important to you about the existing open space and how it could be improved.

Thanks to everyone who made time to tell us what you like about the existing space as well as your ideas, suggestions and priorities for its redesign.

Your feedback has been used to influence the redesign of Blind Creek.

Your priorities Based on feedback captured online and face-to-face, the community’s key priorities and preferences included:

• planting native shrubs and grasses• seeing and hearing native birds and frogs • improving the aquatic habitat• improving shared path links and networks• access and opportunities to interact with the waterway.

People wanted the redesign to enhance the natural environment, improve the community’s connections to the site and to create a sense of place.

We also heard that people were concerned about the potential for flooding. We will ensure the redesign won’t make flooding any worse!

The project’s evaluation report, available online, documents the key findings from this consultation. yoursay.melbournewater.com.au/reimagining-blind-creek

Reimagining Your Creek ProjectBlind Creek, BoroniaCommunity Update - September 2018

Blind Creek near sports grounds

Reimagining Your Creek - Blind Creek, Boronia

Blind Creek site showing redesigned priority zones

12

3

A key change to the western zone will include additional planting of trees and shrubs to create a visual and aural barrier to Scoresby Road.

As this section of the creek follows a sinuous path, there will be ‘isolated billabongs’ or ponds. These will provide places for increased diversity of both terrestrial and aquatic plants.

In this zone, there will be a stepping stone crossing near the main sports ground to the existing footpath along Scoresby Road to enable pedestrians to cross the creek.

To improve safety at the Scoresby Road underpass, there will be minor modifications to the alignment of the existing path. Further safety improvements will require significant funding and engagement with VicRoads.

Scor

esby

Roa

d

Man

uka

Dri

ve1. WESTERN ZONE

Stepping stone crossing from park to Scoresby Road

1. Western zone

2. Central zone 3. Eastern zone

September 2018

As there are a number of mature trees and an existing canopy over the creek in the eastern zone, this area will remain a more contemplative space – somewhere for people can relax.

In this zone, the meandering of the creek will be more constrained given the number of large trees and their extended root zones. Diversity within the waterway will be achieved through a series of pools and riffle zones.

Seating will be provided on both sides of the creek.

On the northern side, seating will provide views to the creek or the sports ground.

On the southern side, the seating will be adjacent to a stepping stone crossing and ponds.

At the central zone we are proposing a formal pedestrian bridge crossing to the second sports ground and grassed area, pending available budget this may be a staged construction. This bridge will link to the shared paths and connect cyclists and pedestrians to Wayne Avenue.

Rockwork will be used to create a pool where the two branches of Blind Creek meet, near the sports ground.

On the northern side of the creek, from the bridge to Manuka Drive, there will be an informal gravel path for pedestrians, with seating that provides views to the creek. There will be additional tree planting west of the bridge to create a wind barrier.

On the southern side of the creek, adjacent to the sports pavilion, there will be an open seating area that can be used for sporting, education and/or group activities, with access to the water.

There will be additional areas for access to either shade or the water’s edge. The shared path will be improved.

Diversity within the waterway will be achieved through a series of pools and riffle zones as the creek meanders from east to west.

3. EASTERN ZONE

2. CENTRAL ZONE

Open grassed areas with improved visibility to the shared path and creek

Bridge crossing between the sports grounds, with steps leading to the water’s edge

Creating your visionThe priority for Blind Creek was to enhance the natural environment, improve the community’s access and connection to the site.

If we were able to include community ideas and suggestions into the redesign, we did.

There were some ideas that aren’t in the redesign. This may have been due to costs, the need for ongoing maintenance or funding by Council or because the suggestion didn’t align with the project’s aims – to enhance life and liveability.

We shared the redesigned concept drawings with the community and our project partners to validate the ideas being developed.

We also began to source seeds and tube stock supplies of native and indigenous species for planting and reinstatement of the creek.

SCENE 1

Reimagining Your CreekArnold’s Creek

September 2018

Reimagining Your Creek ProjectBlind Creek, BoroniaCommunity Update - September 2018

What’s nextWe expect the detailed designs to be completed in November and construction to start in January 2019.

We anticipate construction to take up to 12 months to complete.

As the existing open space will become a construction zone, there will be restricted access into the area, noise and dust.

While we anticipate that work will be completed in sections, these details won’t be available until we have finalised designs and awarded the contract for construction.

To stay informed of our progress and the potential impacts of our work, follow our Reimagining Blind Creek project page yoursay.melbournewater.com.au/reimagining-blind-creek

PROJECT PROGRESS

Workshop with Knox City CouncilCommunity Advisory Group meeting

Project team at Fairpark ReserveCommunity Advisory Group meeting

More informationFor more information about this project or our activities: phone 1800 290 769 email ReimaginingYourCreek@melbournewater.com.au or visit www.yoursay.melbournewater.com.au

To access the TTY and Interpreter Services TTY 133 677 Interpreter 131 450

To contact Melbourne WaterPhone 131 722 Email enquiry@melbournewater.com.au