2008 PlantingPhotos of an exploration of March 26, 2020.
Planning for the Rain Garden, which filters storm-water flowing into
Wurundjeri Creek from the northeast, first started in early 2007.
Melbourne Water, the City of Whitehorse and the Wurundjeri Walk Advisory
Committee were involved in the planning process and Melbourne Water was
responsible for its installation.
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The concept plan for the Rain Garden is different to more traditional
wetland construction techniques. It is more like a ‘drop-in’ turf
cricket pitch with a series of ponds constructed over a sediment base
containing different grades of gravel and sand. The storm-water is
filtered by the indigenous plants that are planted in the ponds. These
plants also take the bulk of the pollutants out of the water. The
physical elements are allowed to settle before the water gradually (and
at low velocity) passes into Wurundjeri Creek. The water leaving the
Rain Garden is much cleaner than the water entering via the storm-water
drain and because it leaves at much lower velocity there is a
much-reduced capacity to cause creek bank erosion downstream.
The Rain Garden area was sprayed out in October 2007 and tenders were
called for the project construction in November 2007. The structural
works occurred over the summer of 2007-2008.
In April 2008 the Wurundjeri Walk Advisory committee in conjunction
with volunteers from Bungalook Nursery organized a very successful
community planting activity at the Rain Garden in conjunction with
Melbourne Water and Whitehorse City Council. Around forty-five people
attended the activity and 1,900 plants were planted in two of the ponds
under the supervision of staff from the project contractor, Ecodynamics.
The project contractor was responsible for planting most of the plants
in the ponds in the weeks following the community activity. A BBQ was
held at Bungalook Nursery following the activity.
The Rain Garden has worked well since its construction and the
habitat created is a wonderful addition to the park. Whitehorse Council
staff and ecological consultants from Envirotechniques now manage and
maintain the Rain Garden. Wurundjeri Walk Advisory committee members
have conducted regular water quality testing and bird surveys in the
Rain Garden since its construction in 2007-2008.
Acknowledgements to the Wurundjeri Walk Advisory Committee and Whitehorse Council for historical information used in this story
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