Merri Creek - Pollution

Pollution

In recent decades much has been done to remedy the creek's condition. Patches of remnant native flora still remain along the creek, and through weed control and ecological burning their quality has been improved. Much native vegetation has been replanted by the Merri Creek Management Committee and the volunteer group Friends of Merri Creek. In recent years, Melbourne Water has been involved in a willow control program to improve water flows and allow for the revegetation of sites with indigenous plant species. At times of low flow, water is sustained in the Creek through treated outfall from the Cragieburn sewage treatment plant, . Water quality was thought to have been insufficient to allow repopulation by Platypus. This is thought to be because toxicants in sediments in the Creek have reduced macroinvertebrate productivity to the point where there is insufficient food to feed a population of platypus. The toxicants are mainly heavy metals and greases which originated in industrial areas in the catchment. However the first sighting in decades occurred between Thornbury and Coburg in Sept 2010.