Government and industry have partnered to transform a once-bleak stretch of Upper Stony Creek into a new open space for Sunshine North residents to enjoy.
The enhanced site has created a natural space with improved amenity and environmental values, featuring a wetlands area and native plantings along the creek channel. A network of paths and tracks will also better connect the area, encouraging use of the space for passive recreation and relaxation.
Works will begin shortly to install a stormwater harvesting and reuse irrigation system as a result of an additional $500,000 contribution from the Victorian Government in 2020. This will help secure vital sustainable water supplies and provide high-quality public open space for the Sunshine community.
The Upper Stony Creek Transformation Project was established in 2016 with the original aim of naturalising 1.2 kilometres of concrete channel. Following the discovery of asbestos in 2018 and subsequent work to clean the site, the scope was revised to retain the concrete channel – while leaving the creek in a better state than before.
Project partners providing funding and support include:
Additional support has been provided by the Commonwealth Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund.
After significant deposits of asbestos were found on site, remediation became the project priority. The entire wetland site and southern 400 metres of concrete channel were remediated for asbestos.
Works were then suspended to investigate further funding opportunities to realise the original vision to transform the area.
Works resumed to complete the wetland, including planting and shared paths, as the site area had been remediated of asbestos.
Plans began to remediate the northern 800 metres of concrete channel (Furlong Road end), installing a mesh barrier topped with clean soil to ‘cap’ the asbestos below ground.
The wetland area was planted, and netting installed to allow vegetation to establish.
The northern channel was planted with indigenous trees and shrubs to improve natural habitat and amenity.
Works are underway to prepare for a stormwater harvesting and reuse irrigation system as a result of additional funding provided by the Victorian Government.
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