The mulching of wetlands in Thornhill Park has frustrated a resident who believes the developer responsible delayed the landscaping process.
Resident Matt Pearse said an approximately kilometre-and-a-half stretch of wetlands that weaves through Thornhill Park – beginning near Mount Cottrell Road and leading to the Melbourne Water-managed retarding basin and wetlands – was long lacking coverage and maintenance.
He said the stretch is managed by development company Wel.Co Group to be handed over to Melton council after completion and began to appear ‘chalk and cheese’ in comparison to the Melbourne Water wetlands.
“Obviously, it does affect residents when the developer isn’t developing … it does affect the local amenity, and it makes the residents think ‘well, if the developer isn’t going to maintain their section, why am I going to maintain mine?’” Mr Pearse said.
He said when he initially raised concerns about the lack of coverage and the appearance of the wetlands with Melton council officers in 2022, he was told mulch could not be used at the site due to the risk of it entering and polluting the waterway.
Now that the site has been mulched, Mr Pearse said he does not believe the response from council.
“I don’t have a problem with the mulch because it does lift up the area … it does provide amenity and provide great coverage. But if it could be done now, why couldn’t it be done in 2022–23 when the project was initially progressing?” Mr Pearse said.
“I don’t believe that Melbourne Water just changed the landscaping plan and the flood plan … I don’t believe it would have happened so suddenly. … based on what council officers are telling me.
“Now [the developer is] on the line for a potential windfall [from] the council, all of a sudden it’s now doable for them.”
Melton director of city futures Sam Romaszko said planting across the wetlands in question is progressing, but “as is typical of native vegetation, it may take some time to reach maturity”.
She said the use of mulch was later reassessed in consultation with Melbourne Water following a site survey.
Melbourne Water general manager of urban planning and development Stuart Draffin said while mulching is used to support the landscaping program by suppressing weeds, this is only used outside the potential flood zone, “so that the mulch does not adversely affect the flood mitigation performance or contaminate the wetland”.
A spokesperson for Wel.Co Group was contacted for comment.
