Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan
The Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) was approved by EPA in May 2006.
- Download a copy of the Stony Creek NEIP (Adobe PDF file, 4179KB or 4.2MB).
Find out the story behind the Stony Creek NEIP:
- About the neighbourhood
- Issues of concern
- Initiatives
- Proposal development, aims and objectives, and launch
- Plan development and launch
- Current activities
- Getting involved.
About the neighbourhood
Stony Creek is an urban stream. It begins in Sunshine and is primarily fed by urban stormwater.
Stony Creek crosses inner western industrial and residential areas before entering the Yarra River near where the Yarra and the Maribyrnong River merge. It crosses three councils – Maribyrnong, Brimbank and Hobsons Bay.
The neighbourhood of the Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan includes all the stormwater drainage catchment that drains to Stony Creek lower and Backwash.
Issues of concern
The main issue of concern about Stony Creek is water quality.
Water quality monitoring rates Stony Creek as being one of the poorest quality urban waterways in Victoria.
The poor water quality and litter threaten the White Mangroves species (Avicennia marina) located in the Stony Creek backwash. Water birds, including the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) and the Great Egret (Ardea intermidia) visit this area.
There are many factors that have contributed to the poor water quality, including:
- Pollution incidents – There have been regular pollution incidents in Stony Creek; EPA has launched many prosecutions for pollution of Stony Creek from industries and road spills.
- Polluted stormwater – Polluted stormwater from the catchment also contributes to the poor water quality of Stony Creek; industrial, residential and commercial activities within Stony Creek catchment all contribute to the quality and quantity of the stormwater.
- Litter – Cigarette butts and packaging materials are regularly flushed into Stony Creek; dog faeces being washed into the creek is also a significant issue.
- Modification of the stream course – The natural watercourse of Stony Creek has been significantly modified by being straightened or concreted; there are low levels of indigenous flora and fauna, and sections of the creek have no public access.
Initiatives
There are several existing programs and initiatives that target Stony Creek. The Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan aims to support and link these programs to create a healthier Stony Creek.
Existing initiatives include:
- Friends of Stony Creek hold regular planting days.
- Parks Victoria Williamstown Foreshore Strategic Plan outlines a habitat plan for the Stony Creek backwash.
- Federation Trail – a bicycle trail that will travel along sections of Stony Creek and will connect to the Bay Trail.
- Maribyrnong City Council Stormwater Management Plan.
- one-year baseline environmental monitoring program administered by Maribyrnong City Council.
Proposal development
The Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) is sponsored by Maribyrnong City Council. The process for developing the Stony Creek NEIP proposal included:
- initial information sessions for interested parties
- the convening of a project launch team
- two public workshops and
- draft proposal review and amendment.
Through the workshops, the following vision was developed for Stony Creek: "A clean Stony Creek that is the pride of all our community".
Proposal aims and objectives
The partners of the Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) are working to achieve the following vision: "A clean Stony Creek that is the pride of all our community".
To achieve the vision, partners have identified six objectives in the NEIP Proposal to concentrate on:
- Improve water quality – This will include the identification and development of management strategies for risks to water quality such as:
- small, medium and large business and industrial stormwater
- roads
- goods transport and handling
- domestic waste/litter.
- Build community capacity – This will involve:
- increased education and awareness for all partners
- improved relationships between community and industry
- improved links and information sharing between industries
- community ownership of environmental improvements
- creating safer, cleaner businesses whose neighbours like them and employees like working for them.
- Enhance open space opportunities – This will include actions to:
- improve amenity
- enable Stony Creek to be a focus for recreational use by local communities
- increase indigenous flora and fauna along Stony Creek
- protect existing indigenous flora and fauna.
- Improve management – This will include:
- consolidation of information
- integration and coordination of existing and future plans and policies, including planning frameworks.
- Improve infrastructure – This will include opportunities to:
- optimise stormwater flows
- reduce sewer and stormwater infrastructure conflicts
- improve the physical form of the waterway where possible.
- Share learning – To use learning from the process to develop a model NEIP that can assist in the sustainable management of other urban waterways.
Proposal launch
The Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) proposal was endorsed on 25 June 2002 and was launched on 11 July 2002 at Cruickshank Park, Yarraville.
The launch was attended by partners of the Stony Creek NEIP.
The then Minister for Environment and Conservation, the Hon Sherryl Garbutt contributed to the environmental improvement of Stony Creek by planting a tree.
- Download a copy of the Stony Creek Proposal (Adobe PDF file, 1749KB or 1.7MB).
Plan development
Following the endorsement of the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) proposal for Stony Creek, a project steering committee was formed to guide the development of the NEIP. Maribyrnong City Council, the sponsor of the NEIP, employed a project officer to co-ordinate the development of the plan. All partners who signed the proposal, along with other parties who expressed an interest for further involvement, were invited to participate in the steering committee and have input into the plan.
The steering committee developed a list of issues relating to Stony Creek and five project subgroups were formed to devise actions and targets to address the identified issues. The meetings held to develop the plan were open for all to attend.
The draft NEIP was placed on public exhibition and was delivered to 5000 homes in late January 2004 for comment. All partners were invited to participate in a final Plan Review Forum. The outcomes of this forum were incorporated into the NEIP document.
The following groups and individuals have signed on as partners to the Stony Creek NEIP:
- Friends of Stony Creek
- Friends of Cruickshank Park
- local residents Jeff Bremner and Brian Carroll
- Melbourne Water
- City West Water
- Brimbank City Council
- Hobsons Bay Council
- Parks Victoria
- Greater Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
- EPA Victoria
- Scienceworks Museum
- FBT Operations
- Dove Transport and Storage
- Westgate Golf Club.
All parties responsible for activities within the NEIP have signed on as a partner to the project. Each activity in the NEIP identifies the partners responsible, the resources required, the source of these resources and the timeframe for the completion of the activity.
The plan also contains a number of actions designed to further encourage the involvement of those not yet signed on as partners.
The Stony Creek NEIP was the first NEIP to be approved by EPA on 19 May 2004.
- Download a copy of the Stony Creek NEIP (Adobe PDF file, 4179KB or 4.2MB).
Plan launch
John Thwaites, former Minister for the Environment (second from left); Mick Bourke, Chairman EPA Victoria (far right); and members of the Stony Creek NEIP Steering Committee at the NEIP launch day
On 19 May 2004 the Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) was the first NEIP to be approved by EPA.
The plan was launched by John Thwaites, former Minister for Environment, on 13 October 2004. Around 45 people, including NEIP partners and school children from the Kingsville Primary School Environment Club, attended the launch on the banks of the Stony Creek, in Cruickshank Park, Yarraville.
The Minister undertook a Waterwatch activity with the local school children. Maribyrnong City Council has developed a Waterwatch program as part of the NEIP.
Current activities
Following the successful approval of the Stony Creek Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) the working group has continued to meet every second month and implement a range of objectives outlined in the NEIP.
Initiatives currently being undertaken include:
- Working with local shop traders to develop a litter plan for South Road, Braybrook shops. This will include establishing benchmarks for litter at the site and assisting with the replacement of plastic bags with reusable bags.
- Setting up three school/community groups to undertake regular water quality monitoring in Stony Creek.
- Distribution of the first of three Litter and Stormwater update brochures (approximately 6000 copies in the catchment), informing the community on progress of the implementation of the NEIP, litter reduction actions and progress on stormwater improvements.
- A business industry function highlighting practices businesses can undertake to reduce their impacts on the creek.
- A stormwater/litter campaign focusing on upstream of the Charlotte St drain catchment area. The campaign will include handing out letters and education over 2-3 visits to premises in the drain catchment.
- Funding and employment of a Council officer to assist planners and developers with the use of STEPS/SDS. STEPS (Sustainable Tools for Environmental Performance Strategy) is used for residential buildings and considers greenhouse, peak energy, water, stormwater and building material impacts. SDS (Sustainable Design Scorecard) is used for commercial, industrial and residential buildings and considers greenhouse, transport, water, stormwater, waste, materials, indoor environment quality and innovation.
- Training of all urban planners in the use of STEPS/SDS.
- Begin Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) training for Council staff and the development of Stormwater Management Guidelines for Maribyrnong (with Melbourne Water funding).
- Continuation of weeding and planting programs along Stony Creek, including the rehabilitation of the Hyde Street reserve following a fire.
Getting involved
New participants are always welcome to become involved in any aspect of the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP). It is possible for new partners to sign up at any time. Interested parties can have as little or as much input or involvement in the NEIP as they wish.
If you have a passion about your local environment and would like to be involved in working towards "A clean Stony Creek that is the pride of all our community", contact:
Gavin Mountjoy
Manager – Sustainability and Environment
Maribyrnong City Council
Telephone: (03) 9688 0366
Send an email
or
Gary Laidlaw
Community Relations Officer
EPA – West Metro Region
Telephone: (03) 9695 2560
Send an email