YEAR 10

Environmental Change and Management

YARRA FIELDWORK

NAME: _______________________________

Emergency contact: 0438 920 461

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YEAR 10 GEOGRAPHY EXCURSION ITINERARY

8:20 Meet at South Road Gates

9:30 – 10:30

Eaglemont Tennis Club

10:30

Depart Eaglemont Tennis Club

11 – 12

Studley Park

12:00

Depart Studley Park

12:30 – 1:15

Lunch – Do not travel further north than Mc Donald’s in Swanston Street. Remember, you must be with at least one other person.

1:15 – 2:30

Southbank

2:30

Depart Southbank

2:50 – 3:00

Arrive South Road

3

ASSESSMENT

Throughout the duration of the excursion you will be required to complete a number of tasks. You will need to:

• Take photographic/video evidence which will then be used to assist you in completing your fieldwork report

• Add sketches to your booklet • Complete the questions and activities in your booklet

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5

EAGLEMONT TENNIS CLUB

Yarra Flats Park features 85 hectares of pastoral and heritage landscapes, natural bushland, wetlands, abundant birdlife and a number of informal picnic areas. Along the Main Yarra Trail is the Heidelberg School Artists Trail, which illustrates how artists a century ago (such as Condor, McCubbin and Streeton) interpreted the landscape.

The Yarra Flats area was a popular site for Aboriginal gatherings of the Wurundjeri people up until the 1950’s. From the 1830s the land was claimed by the state and sold as prime agricultural land. The fertile soils provided excellent conditions for growing wheat and barley.

Droughts and floods in the 1860s forced many farmers off the land and dairy farms were then established. Chinese market gardeners built bluestone walls to divert river water into their gardens. In 1934, floods wiped out the gardens, but the walls remain as reminders of this land practice.

Yarra Flats Park was officially opened in 1984 and is now a significant part of the open space network of interconnecting linear parks, trails, wetlands and waterways throughout the metropolitan area

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/bays-rivers-and-ports/yarra

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Does the water flow at this site?(if yes to this question, continue below) YES NO

Natural Modified Description Spring Stormwater drain (concrete)

Stream Stormwater channel (earth)

Creek Constructed wetland

River Drainage channel Other Other

Water clarity and colour Clear Turbid Description Red

Brown Green Grey White Other

Surface film/scum Film/scum Colour Description

Oil Algae Grey White Soap suds

Sewage Brown

Black Foam Other Green

Other

Water odours Organic Inorganic Description None None

Earthy Cleaning products Musty Petroleum products Rotten egg gas Chemical products Sewage Other Other

Litter & Debris Organic Inorganic Description Lawn clippings Plastic wrappers

Leaves Bottles Bark Cans Sticks Styrofoam Logs Cigarette butts Other Other

7

Draw a field sketch of the creek you are testing in landscape format. Include a small map showing where you drew the picture and noting the direction you faced.

8

Using the following table make observations about the state of the river channel.

Width

Flow height High Medium Low Very Low

Gradient of bank Steep Medium Gentle Undercut

Coverage of bank

Modification of Bank

Evidence of erosion

Flow rate

Vegetation

Use the table below to outline the pollution that can enter the river system through the storm water drains. Pick any storm water drains that you see along the river and near the street. Take a photo of each.

Storm water entrance (location)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

All kinds of litter

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Leaves

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Loose soil and dirt

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Dog droppings

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Oil from dripping cars

Light

Moderate

Heavy

9

Describe the geographic characteristics of the park in the table below

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS

List all the ways in which the area is being used. Take photos of these activities. Are these activities active or passive? How often would they occur? Is it a high or low frequency activity? Are they private or commercially run?

Activity Active/Passive Organized/Casual Numbers

What are the impacts of the above activities on the river? Will they be long or short term? Are they positive or negative? Use the table below to assist you.

Activity Positive/Negative Long / Short term Local or Region Describe the impact

10

List some of the management strategies that you observe in this area. Determine if you think they are successful or not and give reasons for your answers.

Management Strategy Thoughts on strategy

What new strategies do you think could be implemented in the future to sustain and revitalise this area?

11

Show the differences in the environments by placing a tick in the correct location on the scale.

Criteria Value Criteria

1 2 3 4 5

The area is clean There is rubbish in the streets

There are lots of trees There is little vegetation

There are barriers along the river The bank runs straight to the river

The area has been altered a lot The area looks like it has not changed over time

There is a mix of recreational uses There is only one or two main uses

Mono - cultural Multicultural

There is provision for open space Everything is on top of everything else

People are relaxed People are running around nutty

Quiet Noisy

Old Modern

Impersonal Friendly

Interesting Boring

Organized Disorganized

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STUDLEY PARK

The park's location at the joining of the Yarra River and Merri Creek has been an important site for the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people for a long time prior to the arrival of Europeans in Melbourne, which is commemorated by the Koori Garden on the western edge of the park, near Dights Falls. Yarra Bend Park was officially reserved in 1877, and in 1929 it joined with Studley Park to the south to cover the whole of the area today. From 1848 until 1925 the park was home to Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, which took up most of the area of the park with buildings, vegetable gardens and a cemetery.

Historic Studley Park Boathouse, Kew, is only 10 minutes from the city centre and offers visitors the opportunity to dine in the restaurant, relax over a lighter meal in the indoor/outdoor café, or have a light snack from the kiosk while enjoying sweeping views of the Yarra River and natural bushland. You can also hire row boats, canoes and kayaks from the oldest operating boathouse in Australia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarra_Bend_Park

13

Draw a field sketch of the creek you are testing in landscape format. Include a small map showing where you drew the picture and noting the direction you faced.

14

Does the water flow at this site?(if yes to this question, continue below) YES NO

Natural Modified Description Spring Stormwater drain (concrete)

Stream Stormwater channel (earth)

Creek Constructed wetland

River Drainage channel Other Other

Water clarity and colour Clear Turbid Description Red

Brown Green Grey White Other

Surface film/scum Film/scum Colour Description

Oil Algae Grey White Soap suds

Sewage Brown

Black Foam Other Green

Other

Water odours Organic Inorganic Description None None

Earthy Cleaning products Musty Petroleum products Rotten egg gas Chemical products Sewage Other Other

Litter & Debris Organic Inorganic Description Lawn clippings Plastic wrappers

Leaves Bottles Bark Cans Sticks Styrofoam Logs Cigarette butts Other Other

15

Using the following table make observations about the state of the river channel.

Width

Flow height High Medium Low Very Low

Gradient of bank Steep Medium Gentle Undercut

Coverage of bank

Modification of Bank

Evidence of erosion

Flow rate

Vegetation

Use the table below to outline the pollution that can enter the river system through the storm water drains. Pick any storm water drains that you see along the river and near the street. Take a photo of each.

Storm water entrance (location)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

All kinds of litter

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Leaves

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Loose soil and dirt

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Dog droppings

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Oil from dripping cars

Light

Moderate

Heavy

16

Describe the geographic characteristics of the park in the table below

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS

List all the ways in which the area is being used. Take photos of these activities. Are these activities active or passive? How often would they occur? Is it a high or low frequency activity? Are they private or commercially run?

Activity Active/Passive Organized/Casual Numbers

What are the impacts of the above activities on the river? Will they be long or short term? Are they positive or negative? Use the table below to assist you.

Activity Positive/Negative Long / Short term Local or Region Describe the impact

17

List some of the management strategies that you observe in this area. Determine if you think they are successful or not and give reasons for your answers.

Management Strategy Thoughts on strategy

What new strategies do you think could be implemented in the future to sustain and revitalise this area?

18

Show the differences in the environments by placing a tick in the correct location on the scale.

Criteria Value Criteria

1 2 3 4 5

The area is clean There is rubbish in the streets

There are lots of trees There is little vegetation

There are barriers along the river The bank runs straight to the river

The area has been altered a lot The area looks like it has not changed over time

There is a mix of recreational uses There is only one or two main uses

Mono - cultural Multicultural

There is provision for open space Everything is on top of everything else

People are relaxed People are running around nutty

Quiet Noisy

Old Modern

Impersonal Friendly

Interesting Boring

Organized Disorganized

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SOUTHBANK

The life and soul of Southbank is the affluent, buzzing Southbank Promenade. This path stretches along the south side of the Yarra River from the popular Southgate shopping and dining complex to the glittering Crown Casino. Southbank is an important cultural hub that includes the Melbourne Arts Centre, Concert Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, National Gallery of Victoria, the Malthouse Theatre, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Victorian College of the Arts. It also includes the Melbourne Exhibition Centre (informally known as Jeff’s Shed after a former premier) and the Polly Woodside Maritime Museum.

Significant and rapid residential development has occurred in Southbank in recent years, with the population skyrocketing. The vast majority of residents live in high rise apartments, the tallest of which is the 300m tall Eureka Tower. The 92-level tower is one of the world’s tallest residential buildings.

20

Draw a field sketch of the creek you are testing in landscape format. Include a small map showing where you drew the picture and noting the direction you faced.

21

Does the water flow at this site?(if yes to this question, continue below) YES NO

Natural Modified Description Spring Stormwater drain (concrete)

Stream Stormwater channel (earth)

Creek Constructed wetland

River Drainage channel Other Other

Water clarity and colour Clear Turbid Description Red

Brown Green Grey White Other

Surface film/scum Film/scum Colour Description

Oil Algae Grey White Soap suds

Sewage Brown

Black Foam Other Green

Other

Water odours Organic Inorganic Description None None

Earthy Cleaning products Musty Petroleum products Rotten egg gas Chemical products Sewage Other Other

Litter & Debris Organic Inorganic Description Lawn clippings Plastic wrappers

Leaves Bottles Bark Cans Sticks Styrofoam Logs Cigarette butts Other Other

22

Using the following table make observations about the state of the river channel.

Width

Flow height High Medium Low Very Low

Gradient of bank Steep Medium Gentle Undercut

Coverage of bank

Modification of Bank

Evidence of erosion

Flow rate

Vegetation

Use the table below to outline the pollution that can enter the river system through the storm water drains. Pick any storm water drains that you see along the river and near the street. Take a photo of each.

Storm water entrance (location)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

All kinds of litter

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Leaves

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Loose soil and dirt

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Dog droppings

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Oil from dripping cars

Light

Moderate

Heavy

23

Using the following table make observations about the state of the river channel.

Width

Flow height High Medium Low Very Low

Gradient of bank Steep Medium Gentle Undercut

Coverage of bank

Modification of Bank

Evidence of erosion

Flow rate

Vegetation

Use the table below to outline the pollution that can enter the river system through the storm water drains. Pick any storm water drains that you see along the river and near the street. Take a photo of each.

Storm water entrance (location)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

All kinds of litter

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Leaves

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Loose soil and dirt

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Dog droppings

Light

Moderate

Heavy

Oil from dripping cars

Light

Moderate

Heavy

24

Describe the geographic characteristics of the area in the table below

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS

List all the ways in which the area is being used. Take photos of these activities. Are these activities active or passive? How often would they occur? Is it a high or low frequency activity? Are they private or commercially run?

Activity Active/Passive Organized/Casual Numbers

What are the impacts of the above activities on the river? Will they be long or short term? Are they positive or negative? Use the table below to assist you.

Activity Positive/Negative Long / Short term Local or Region Describe the impact

25

26

What future land use changes can you see occurring in the area and what impacts would this have for water quality in the area.

Show the differences in the environments by placing a tick in the correct location on the scale.

Criteria Value Criteria

1 2 3 4 5

The area is clean There is rubbish in the streets

There are lots of trees There is little vegetation

There are barriers along the river The bank runs straight to the river

The area has been altered a lot The area looks like it has not changed over time

There is a mix of recreational uses There is only one or two main uses

Mono - cultural Multicultural

There is provision for open space Everything is on top of everything else

People are relaxed People are running around nutty

Quiet Noisy

Old Modern

Impersonal Friendly

Interesting Boring

Organized Disorganized

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