Recovery Update
Published on 15 march 2019
On-ground recovery works
Stony Creek clean-up work has commenced with desilting work likely to start next week. Debris and other materials are being cleared and stockpiled at the site to enable the efficient removal of sediment. Contaminated sediment will be removed by excavators and other machinery, temporarily stockpiled and contained at the fire site, where it can be prepared for safe disposal to a secure landfill.
To prevent contaminants being washed downstream while the sediment removal works are underway, creek flows will be diverted around the immediate area via an above-ground bypass pipe and pumping equipment. These remediation works will be undertaken over a number of weeks.
Water and sediment results from the sampling on 15 February have been delayed due to the time taken to receive them from the lab and have only just been received by EPA. Analysis and interpretation have commenced with a web update planned for the week starting 18 March.
The delivery of this recovery work is being coordinated across multiple agencies and is guided by advice from contaminated land specialists. The recovery efforts are highly complex and has required careful planning due to many factors, including ensuring the safety of all agency staff and contractors, the nature and extent of contaminants, treatment and disposal options of contaminated sediment, and access for machinery.
EPA officers continue to carry out regular inspections of the fire site to monitor compliance with statutory notices and ensure appropriate risk controls are in place.
Rehabilitation planning
Community feedback on Melbourne Water’s Stony Creek Rehabilitation Your Say page closed on 11 March. There was an overwhelming amount of interest and contributions made to the webpage while it was open for feedback over a four and a half week period. We heard so many great stories about why people love Stony Creek, and lots of fantastic ideas and aspirations for the future of the creek. You can read the stories, ideas and aspirations that people shared online.
Twenty four passionate community members will play an important part in prioritising these ideas and identifying key actions at a two-day workshop to be held on Sunday 17 and Sunday 24 March. Their participation will help shape the long-term rehabilitation plan for Stony Creek and its surrounding environment, which will be developed over the coming months. Staff from Melbourne Water, Maribyrnong Council and EPA will be presenting at the workshop, and representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Hobsons Bay City Council and Parks Victoria will also be there to answer any questions that people may have about the recovery and rehabilitation phases that are relevant to the role of their agency.
If you missed out on being part of the community workshop, there are other ways you can still be involved and provide feedback to help shape the Stony Creek Rehabilitation Plan. Make sure you follow Melbourne Water’s Your Say page to be kept informed of updates and future opportunities to provide feedback.
M102 Water Main Renewal Project
The M102 Water Main Project now has traffic management set-up along part of Somerville Road, near Kingsville Primary School. This is to enable works to be completed at the intersection of Julian Street and Somerville Road, which is expected to be completed by next week. The M102 project team continues to work with Kingsville Primary School to ensure minimal disruption as the works pass by the school on two sides. Similarly, the project team is keeping local residents up-to-date of progress and will reopen access to Julian Street as soon as the works in the intersection are completed next week.
In Cruickshank Park, the team has re-seeded grassed areas disturbed when the new pipes were installed and temporary fencing remains in place to protect the area, which will help the grass to fully establish. A concrete walking path in the park has also been reinstated, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to move through the works area. Remediation works to the banks of Stony Creek where the pipe was installed are complete, with additional planting to be undertaken by Melbourne Water’s Waterways & Land delivery team.
More information on the project’s progress is available on the Melbourne Water website.