Recovery update

Published on 18 January 2019

Melbourne Water and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) continue to work closely together on the removal of upstream sources of contamination between the fire site and Paramount Road. Further testing and assessment will be undertaken by EPA during the work and after it is complete to ensure the creek has been remediated to appropriate levels.

Work commenced upstream, adjacent to the fire site on Monday 3 December. Specialist arborists wearing PPE and working with cranes have been removing trees and other vegetation in sections. The tree removal commenced again this week and will be completed over the coming weeks.

Tadpoles have been spotted in the creek by Friends of Stony Creek and Melbourne Water which is a positive sign of the waterway’s recovery!

Results from samples collected on 12 December 2018 have just been received and have yet to be formally assessed.

A preliminary review of the data indicates that contaminants are at similar levels to the last round of sampling. In the case of hydrocarbons in sediments, they are still high at Cruikshank Park and Hyde Street indicating that the current advice needs to be maintained. Due to staff absences over this period, the update to the website with these results is expected to occur in the week starting 21 January. The next round of water and sediment sampling is scheduled for 17 January.

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.

Booms and hay bale bunds continue to trap floating contaminants throughout Stony Creek - these are inspected twice a week and cleaned or replaced when necessary. Updates to Melbourne Water’s blue signage will be replaced by our field crew today on site.

The M102 water main renewal project is progressing well through Cruickshank Park. A temporary coffer dam will be constructed to cross Stony Creek and divert flows around the work. Pipe-laying activity will continue in this location for the next 5 to 6 days. More information on the project’s progress is available on the Melbourne Water website.