A few days ago, a news headline on Dandenong Creek grabbed my attention. As a local resident in Altona, I am fully aware of Kororoit Creek, Laverton Creek and Cherry Creek. However, I do not know of other creeks in Melbourne, and this is the first time I have heard of Dandenong Creek.
A Google search turns up a RACV review placing Kororoit Creek and Dandenong Creek along with Gardiners Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek and Merri Creek for offering the best creek walks in Melbourne.
The videos below, posted by the local environmental group First Friends of Dandenong Creek, show a bizarre sight of the creek on Sunday 20 May 2018. Thick, white suds were floating down a 5km stretch of the Dandenong Creek, from Marie Wallace Park in Bayswater to Boronia Road in Vermont. They were breaking off into large tufts which floated around like small clouds.
Ok guys we need a favor – whatever media contacts you have please use them and ask them to come down to HE Parker Reserve in Heathmont to witness this. PleaseKES Knox Environment Society EPA Victoria Heidi Victoria MP Samantha Dunn MP Maroondah City Council Knox City Council Nick Wakeling MP Daniel Andrews ABC Melbourne Maroondah Leader Knox Leader The Age Shaun Leane MP Peter Lockwood Friends of Old Joes Creek Friends of Blind Creek Billabong Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve
Posted by First Friends of Dandenong Creek on Saturday, May 19, 2018
Anthony Bigelow, the group’s vice president, believed businesses based in the Bayswater industrial estate, where a stormwater drain feeds into the creek, were responsible for this pollution event, which had occurred for the tenth time this year. “What we fear is going to happen – like most of these events – is that the EPA will come out and say ‘source unknown’ and then close the case,” he said.
EPA executive director of regional services Damian Wells said identifying the culprit would be difficult as it is a complex task to trace the chemicals to its originating source. He urged anyone with information on the pollution to contact EPA on its 1300 EPA VIC hotline, and warned any rogue operators found responsible for the pollution could face anything from a $8000 fine to prosecution in the courts.
This stuff is floating everywhere at HE Parker, in Heathmont.
Posted by First Friends of Dandenong Creek on Saturday, May 19, 2018
Both Bio2Lab environmental scientist Dr. David Sharley and University of Melbourne’s Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management CEO Professor Vincent Pettigrove agreed the chemical was a surfactant and was likely used as a cleaning agent on an industrial scale. Professor Pettigrove said the foaming events appeared to occur on weekends, providing leads to the investigation. Dr Sharley agreed that those responsible could be tracked down by man-hole sampling and analysis of chemicals.
Hopefully the culprit will be identified soon and the creek will be restored to its pristine state.
Reference
