The picturesque Moonee Ponds Creek in Melbourne’s North is being affected by large amounts of waste that is ruining the view for local residents and passers-by.
The area has a rich history, as the Moonee Ponds Creek was a major thoroughfare in the 1890’s for cargo vessels travelling to depots around Melbourne.
Unfortunately, the area has slipped into decline and The Age called the area “the most abused tributary in Melbourne”.
Experts say trash floating in Moonee Ponds Creek is not detrimental to the creek’s water quality but could be damaging to the wildlife in Port Phillip Bay.
Plastic bottles, polystyrene, and other assorted detritus can be seen collecting in the creek from Flemington Bridge railway station down to Docklands.
A local marketing executive, Anna, who walks along the creek every day to get to work said the creek was in a bad state.
“On a good day it can look quite nice but on a bad day it can look quite boggy and messy. There are a lots of shopping trolleys, metal and debris.”
Ian Rutherford, Professor in Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne, said the rubbish could harm wildlife.
“The biggest problem is when [the rubbish] enters the aquatic environment, the bay, where it can wrap around animals and cause issues.”
People who use the adjacent walking tracks to travel to work, like RMIT student Asmeera, said the area is an eyesore.
“It’s very messy, I think it needs more care. More organisation should take place in order to improve the view.”
With construction work along the river currently underway, the risk of construction waste entering the river is also a potential problem, further threatening the abundant wildlife.
By Mark Barnes and Lucas Radbourne-Pugh
