Stony Creek Future Directions Plan 2020

Stony Creek is highly valued by the local community and often described as an oasis to escape traffic noise, busy roads and the stresses of everyday life. This urban waterway flows through the western section of the City of Maribyrnong and into the Yarra River near the West Gate Bridge.

Council has developed an update to the 2011 Stony Creek Future Directions Plan (the Plan) which was endorsed by Council on 25 February 2020.

The Stony Creek Future Directions Plan 2020(PDF, 7MB) addresses the length of the creek as it passes through our City and incorporates a masterplan for Cruickshank Park.

The Plan suggests further improvements to the creek corridor, with a vision to see rain gardens and wetlands developed to improve water quality in the creek and make it a safe, accessible and welcoming network of public open space. The Plan is informed by engagement conducted regarding Cruickshank Park and extensive community input since the 2018 West Footscray/Tottenham fire and the recommendations outlined in Melbourne Water's Stony Creek Rehabilitation Plan.

Feasibility study

A feasibility study of the creek was undertaken in May 2019, which looked at ways to improve the quality of the stormwater that ran into the creek and thereby improve the water quality of Stony Creek, this research was supported by a Melbourne Water ‘Living Rivers’ grant. The feasibility study looked at ways to capture, treat and reuse stormwater by developing raingardens and wetlands in open spaces that would remove sediments and stormwater pollutants from Council streets and drains before they discharged into the creek.

One of the suggested ways to improve the creek is through the development of raingardens and wetlands, which have the added benefit of providing increased biodiversity and habitat, provide a cooling effect and improved amenity along the creek.

Key actions of the plan

Some of the key actions the plan addresses are:

• a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages and abilities to encourage them to connect with nature
• improved habitat and biodiversity
• stormwater treatment incorporated into the landscape for improved water quality
• cooling increased vegetation and tree canopy cover a wide variety of active and informal recreation activities
• improved public access and connections along the creek and linkages between neighbourhoods

Upcoming Works

New public toilet at McNish Reserve - works starting late May 2021

• Preliminary works will include installation of service connections to the new toilet site (water, power and sewer).
• The toilet will be the same type as the one installed at Hansen Reserve in 2020.

Path upgrade works from Drew Street to Francis Street - commencing June 2021

• Works will include construction of a new concrete path to improve accessibility between Drew street and Francis Street.
• The new path will replace areas of existing gravel path and construct the missing link from Finlay Street to Francis Street.  
• New sections of concrete path will be constructed on uphill sections near the tennis courts/BMX track to prevent ongoing gravel path erosion issues.
• The rest of the path area around the Tennis Courts/BMX Track will be retained as gravel path.
• Some additional park seats will be installed as part of these works. 

McNish Reserve picnic facilities - commencing August 2021

• Works will include installation of a new picnic shelter, barbecue and picnic setting.

Rain garden and frog pond at Bishop Street and Rain garden at Court Street - commencing August 2021

• Raingardens are specially-designed garden beds that filter stormwater runoff from surrounding areas or stormwater pipes before it enters a waterway.
• We will be constructing rain gardens near Bishop Street and Court Street and also constructing a frog pond adjacent to the Bishop Street raingarden in partnership with Melbourne Water.
• The works will include excavation and relocation of soil, connection to existing stormwater points, planting of shrubs and grasses and reinstatement works.
• These works will help towards improving water quality in the creek and improving habitat opportunities in the park.