Liam McNally
Star Weekly is taking a look back at 2023. Here’s one of our biggest stories from last year.
Wetlands in Thornhill Park have become an “eyesore” due to a lack of maintenance, according to Thornhill Park Working Group, which has been advocating for Melbourne Water and the developer to address the issue.
Thornhill Park’s main wetland is a two-hectare area near the corner of Paynes Road and the Western Freeway.
Thornhill Park Working Group member Matthew Pearse said the lack of drainage in the wetlands had led to routine flooding.
“The flooding right now is close to a metre above its desired level. This area floods routinely every year during the winter and spring rains. This time it’s been flooded for over a month, and we still aren’t through winter,” he said.
“Currently this blocks the only walking path connecting both sides of the track, and a local pond area of the precinct is continually flooded from the wetlands overflow.
“The [estate] stages that have been completed are of a great standard and are a highlight of the community, but this one is becoming an eyesore. It continuously impacts the way residents are able to use this precinct.”
Developer Wel.Co began construction of the wetland in 2018. An August 2022 Landscape Update on the Thornhill Park website said that responsibility for its completion was being handed over to Melbourne Water.
“…the absence of an outfall drain north of the freeway is prohibiting our ability to proceed with this landscape package due to the impact sustained inundation will have on any landscape,” it said.
“In consultation with Melbourne Water and Melton council, Melbourne Water will now assume responsibility of this asset due to the complexities of downstream planning…”
Melbourne Water acknowledged that as part of the development of the estate a retarding basin was needed to ensure excess stormwater runoff continued to flow north towards Kororoit Creek.
Melbourne Water head of waterway and catchment services north-west Victoria Penko said Melbourne Water had been closely monitoring water levels within the Thornhill Park Estate retarding basin to ensure levels posed no risk to local residents and the community.
“The works that are soon to start are designed to maintain stable retarding basin water levels and continue the natural flow of water towards Kororoit Creek,” she said.
“Weather permitting, we are hoping to complete the works prior to Christmas so that, come autumn, we can commence with local landscaping and planting.”
At a Melton council meeting on Monday, June 26 Mr Pearse called on council to contact Melbourne Water and the Thornhill Park developer to seek an update on the maintenance for two wetlands in Thornhill Park.
Melton council agreed to request an update.
“The community isn’t asking for much,” Mr Pearce said.
“We’re just asking that our parks are completed and they’re completed safely, and they’re maintained correctly.
“It’s not as if we’re asking for a botanic garden.”
Wel.Co was contacted for comment.
