By Derek Schlennstedt
Construction of the Sassafras Creek stormwater project has been completed in time for the Anzac Day event to be held on Village Green.
The project which involved excavating and installing tanks four metres beneath the surface of the village green, will reduce significant erosion to the Sassafras Creek and pollution caused by stormwater and debris.
The underground tanks will capture and retain stormwater before being slowly released to the creek.
The tanks will temporarily hold up to 450kL of stormwater – the size of 2.5 standard household pools and filter pollution from the stormwater, removing litter and contaminants, further improving the water quality of the creek.
Cr Noel Cliff said the new tanks and drainage would filter pollution and debris from the stormwater before water is slowly released into the creek, mimicking natural flows.
“Reducing the water volume and flow rates will allow the Dandenong and Sherbrooke Amphipod, Dandenong Burrowing Crayfish and Slender Tree Fern to remain supported,” Cr Cliff said.
“I’d like to thank the Friends of Sassafras Creek group for raising the issue with Council, after noticing fast moving stormwater was wearing away the creek and forming a deep gully.”
Cr Noel said that pasture land and forests allowed rainwater to filter into the soil but in developed residential areas stormwater flowed directly into drains before entering the creeks.
“Stormwater runoff often collects damaging pollutants such as chemicals, oils and heavy metals from cars and rubbish, and carries them directly into creeks and rivers, where they impact our iconic animals like platypus,” Cr Cliff said.
“The drainage systems allow large volumes of stormwater to flow directly to waterways.
“While this is efficient it can lead to a negative environmental outcome. Erosion of stream banks is common and this is precisely what has been happening to Sassafras Creek.”
As part of the project the 1997 Bushfire Memorial Path has been reinstated.
The project was co-funded by Council and Melbourne Water.
The orange barrier fencing around the green will come down prior to the Anzac Day event and special event matting will be placed on the grassed area close to the memorial
Additional grass seeding will be put down after the event.
