Reimagining Tarralla Creek

Project categoryDrainage, Footpaths, Parks and reserves, Croydon Activity Centre projects
StatusStage 1 complete, Stage 2 planned

Melbourne Water is leading this project in partnership with Council, Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the local community.

Together we are transforming Tarralla Creek and the Croydon Wetlands into a fun and friendly open space and waterway.

Completed works – Stage 1

Stage 1 of the Reimagining Your Creek Project saw the completion of works on 500 metres of Tarralla Creek, and Croydon Wetlands in Croydon in 2022. This transformed a once under-utilised boggy wetland into a thriving natural oasis. The section of the creek between Vinter Avenue and Norton Road has been completely reconstructed and extended to provide increased habitat and biodiversity.

Stage 1 was a joint initiative led by Melbourne Water in partnership with Maroondah City Council, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Yarra Valley Water, Friends of Eastfield Park and the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning (DELWP) (which is now DEECA).

Stage 1 of the project included:

Major reconstruction work to transform the wetland
A new pedestrian access bridge over the creek
New furniture, landscape structures and amenities including a bird hide and stepping stones within this section of the creek, the underground concrete drain was removed and replaced with a natural channel
Over 80,000 ephemeral, terrestrial and aquatic plants were also introduced to the wetland and surrounding area, now thriving and encouraging natural fauna to return to the space.

Upcoming works - Stage 2

The next stage of the project will focus on the section of creek from Vinter Avenue to Eastfield Road in Croydon. This will involve transforming a further 886 metres of the creek.

What’s involved in the project?

Daylighting a further 886 metres of the underground stormwater pipe
Upgrading the shared user path, improving connectivity and accessibility in the area
New informal creek crossings
New eel trap, and women’s space alongside the shared user path (subject to approvals)
Landscaping and native plantings.

What is ‘daylighting’? Daylighting refers to the removal of underground stormwater drains and transforming them into natural waterways and open spaces. Replacing the existing piped waterway with an open and flowing channel will see Tarralla Creek restored to a more natural state.

Melbourne Water is leading the design and delivery of Stage 2, in partnership with Council, Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA), Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment & Water (DCCEEW) and the local community.

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program and Melbourne Water.

You can read more about the project on the Melbourne Water website. Also, more information can be found at Urban Rivers and Catchments Program - DCCEEW

Project background

Starting in 2017, the initial Reimagining Your Creek project sought to reimagine Tarralla Creek and its surrounds through an integrated partnership led by Melbourne Water with the community, Council, Yarra Valley Water; Friends of Eastfield Park and the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning (DELWP) (which is now DEECA).

The project included: