By Callum Ludwig
Warburton residents raised questions about some works that began around the turn of the new year along the Yarra River just downstream of Warburton.
The ‘Warburton and Surrounds Residents’ Facebook Group drew some attention when Millgrove resident Thomas Osburg shared his concerns about the removal of a large old tree and appearance of survey markers along the bank, with other residents chiming in about not having heard about any works beginning and worried about potential impacts on platypus which frequent that part of the river.
Mr Osburg discovered the works on New Year’s Eve and said his main concern with this project is the platypus habitat and the very real likelihood that there is a platypus burrow or burrows there with platypus living there.
“I have seen platypus all around there for decades and that’s where they live on the riverbank up and down the river,” he said.
“I would imagine that with such a large project Melbourne Water would have at least letter-boxed all the neighbours or even had one of those drop-in sessions in Warburton at the Mechanic’s Institute or even a notice in the newspaper that these works were proposed and invited knowledgeable public input, so I am very annoyed and disgruntled that there was no wide community consultation,”
“I think it is vital that the community be given clear reasoning behind these works by providing the rationale as well as explaining the science behind why this needed to be done and why no other alternatives were explored…Melbourne Water needs to explain the engineering behind this project as well as explain why it was necessary to cut down two old healthy messmate trees that showed no sign of rot at their base or along their length, these trees were decades old and once again were native wildlife habitat.”
The works are taking place in a low-traffic area of the river between Riverturn Lane and Tommy Finns Trout Farm on the Yarra River which is not accessible on foot and are intended to restore the waterway and rehabilitate the available habitat for river blackfish and platypus.
Melbourne Water Acting Executive General Manager of Service and Asset Lifecycle Jo Hunt said Melbourne Water is continuing works to stop the erosion of the riverbank at a bend in the Yarra River, downstream of Warburton.
“Our contractors are installing wood piles and debris to strengthen the riverbank and improve habitat for local wildlife, including river blackfish and platypus,” she said.
“Works will conclude in June with planting of 1500 trees, shrubs, and grasses in the sediment to further stabilise the riverbank.”
On the week of 13 January, Melbourne Water staff will use machinery to install wooden piles in the river and move cobbles and rocks to reduce the volume of water flowing against the riverbanks with the newly created piles intended to encourage sediment to deposit along the eroding bank and allow replanting of the area to prevent future erosion.
Consultation was carried out with private landholders directly around the site to use an existing access track which was then lined with with crushed rock to comply with Melbourne Water’s cultural heritage permit.
Melbourne Water removed the two large trees near the works site in December as their root systems had been undercut and were deemed likely to fall, with the wood debris from the trees recycled for use at the site.
Melbourne Water has not received any public enquiries about bank stabilisation works at Warburton. Community enquiries can be made by calling Melbourne Water on 131 722.
